Discoscaphites Conradi

Name: Discoscaphites conradi

Phylum Mollusca; Class Cephalopoda; Subclass Ammonoidea; Order Ammonitida

Geological Time: Cretaceous

Size: 22 mm (24 mm by 26 mm matrix base)

Fossil Site: Fox Hills Formation, South Dakota

The high degree of preservation of its natural mother-of-pearl shell makes it appear to be preserved as gemstone. This is a consequence of light passing through the various layers of aragonite and conchiolin deposited by the ammonite in life. Conchiolin is secreted by various other mollusks, including oysters, and is a complex protein. The colors change with changing perspective but the dominate green mixed with pink stand out for this little gem.