Belemnite Squid Fossil

[OpalGalaxy]

Thought I would share this new piece we just got.  Belemnite is fossilised squid over 100 million years from Coober Pedy, South Australia.

Photos:
 

 

 

[Ludwigia]

Geez! That's almost as pretty as your fingernails

[Fossildude19]

As far as having been a belemnite:

Without seeing before polishing pictures, how would one distinguish that this was actually a fossil, and not just a gem that has been shaped to look like a belemnite? 

Just curious.  

[OpalGalaxy]

Its certified by the World Opal Association

[OpalGalaxy]

Besides the shape and the certification that's all that you can rely on Im afraid. Its also quiet rare to come across a crystal opal that big which pushes more towards the evidence that it is a Belemnite Squid

[Fossildude19]

27 minutes ago, OpalGalaxy said:

Its certified by the World Opal Association

Unfortunately, as some here know (but many may not know), certifications really mean very little. 

Anyone with a computer and half decent inkjet printer can create a "Certificate of Authenticity".  

 

I'm sure that the Certification by the Opal Association has it's uses, but consumers should be aware that they can do their own due diligence to verify their purchases by getting before processing pictures. One of our goals here at the Forum is to educate people who are not well versed in fossils how not to be parted from their money by misidentified, fake, or restored/enhanced fossils.

 

I would encourage anyone looking to acquire such items do their research, and request before polish/prep pictures to ascertain whether an opal started out as a fossil.  

I would also encourage the members of the Opal Association to have/get/ask for the supporting evidence available with the COA to put the customer's mind at ease.  

That would be a win-win, in my opinion.  

 

By nature, opals are softer gems, and could conceivably be carved.  

[JohnJ]

32 minutes ago, OpalGalaxy said:

Its certified by the World Opal Association

 

27 minutes ago, OpalGalaxy said:

Besides the shape and the certification that's all that you can rely on Im afraid. Its also quiet rare to come across a crystal opal that big which pushes more towards the evidence that it is a Belemnite Squid

 

Certified as what?  Opal?  Is there physical evidence or prepolishing photographic documentation this is a belemnite?  

 

If not, then suggestions otherwise are empty hopes.  We have seen many opalized fossils on TFF over the years, and their characteristics were identifiable.

[FossilDAWG]

Hi OpalGalaxy,

 

Your opal specimen is quite beautiful!  However, you should keep in mind that our forum is dedicated to disseminating information about fossils.  Over the years we have seen some excellent opalized specimens, but those posts (as John mentioned) showed specimens that were obvious fossils.  The problem with your "belemnite" is that it has been so ground and polished that nothing remains, except for a very generalized shape, to identify it as a belemnite.  In the future you should also post "before" photos that clearly establish the fossil nature of the specimen, along with some information (genus and/or species level ID, geological context) that allows us to learn something new about the fossils found in your area.  We are not really a forum for gemstones, nor are we a venue for commercial vendors to advertise their wares.

 

Don