Baculite Fossil in Shale

Item Description

The Bearpaw Formation (Bearpaw Shale) in Montana is a late Cretaceous formation dating around 75-80 million years ago, and is the source of some excellent ammonite fossils, including the Baculite species Baculites compressus. This ancient cephalopod species is fairly well-known from this locality, but it's difficult to find good matrix specimens like this on the market. An 8.0 cm, smooth, well-preserved shell of the former Baculite can be seen flaring off the grey shale matrix. The series of camerae or chambers on the specimen are notably distinct and eye-catching. A fantastic example of this classic and hard to find material from Montana, especially because it features such a good sized fossil ON matrix. It should be noted that the Bearpaw Formation is the same formation that produces the gorgeous rainbow Ammolite specimens in Alberta, Canada (just over the border from Montana).