MHAN Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 I am very interested in purchasing this brittle star from Dorset, UK. It is not cheap. so just want to ask your opinion ☺️ do you think it is 100% natural and real? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 This looks totally real, and a very nice example of a brittlestar. 1 2 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 One of the nicest I've seen and prepped very well. Cheers. -Ken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paleorunner Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 wow!!! I had not seen something so well preserved, it seems current ..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 I too considered a modern brittlestar preserved and glued-down onto the substrate. The way they look to have chased a couple of the arms down into the matrix during prepping makes me believe this is either an exceedingly well conceived hoax (fake) or that it a beautiful example of an exquisitely preserved ophiuroid. Of course, one of the best methods for checking its authenticity is to try to look up similar material from this locality. If you can find similar looking material (from other vendors) that seem quite similar to this stunning specimen, then that would give me much more confidence. As always, if I were purchasing a relatively expensive specimen I'd want to make sure the seller stands behind it with a money-back guarantee. Having it in hand should allow someone to verify that it is completely authentic. You should be able to see the contact between the specimen and the matrix being nothing but matrix (without any signs of adhesive). The specimen itself should be well lithified and solid. If it were to be the hollow exoskeleton of a modern brittle star glued down to a suggestively carved block of matrix then glue should be apparent under magnification (or UV light) and a pin would easily penetrate the exoskeleton even if it were solidified with consolidant. I think it looks exceptional (so much so that we both could be persuaded to believe it modern) but (with a money-back guarantee) I'd be willing to purchase it (if I purchased fossils, which I don't). If you do pop for this specimen, let us know how it looks in-hand when you get it. We'd love to see some more detailed close-up photos of this beauty. Cheers. -Ken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 It does seem that Dorset, UK is blessed with some incredibly preserved ophiuroids: https://www.google.com/search?q=dorset+uk+brittlestar+fossils&tbm=isch Apparently, famous for these--scroll down to the Down Cliff Sand Member section of this page: http://www.discoveringfossils.co.uk/seatown_fossils.htm Cheers. -Ken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 It's real alright and an excellent sample. They are rare and not easy to come by in that quality, hence the expensiveness. 1 1 Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 (edited) Its' a superb specimen, beautifully prepped. Edited March 18, 2022 by Tidgy's Dad 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHAN Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share Posted March 19, 2022 17 hours ago, Fossildude19 said: This looks totally real, and a very nice example of a brittlestar. Thank you Tim, it is good to hear : ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHAN Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share Posted March 19, 2022 17 hours ago, digit said: One of the nicest I've seen and prepped very well. Cheers. -Ken Thank you so much, Ken for your very informative and helpful answer! I will definitely update with some pictures once I get it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHAN Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share Posted March 19, 2022 16 hours ago, Ludwigia said: It's real alright and an excellent sample. They are rare and not easy to come by in that quality, hence the expensiveness. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHAN Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share Posted March 19, 2022 13 hours ago, Tidgy's Dad said: Its' a superb specimen, beautifully prepped. Thank you, Tidgy's Dad~ Nice to hear from you again 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHAN Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share Posted March 19, 2022 17 hours ago, Paleorunner said: wow!!! I had not seen something so well preserved, it seems current ..... thank you~ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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