Pyritized Ammonite bag of 10

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These are more examples of Pyritized Ammonites, similar to your "Golden" specimen, but these have been prepped and hollowed out to reveal the stunning internal anatomy.

In the fossil trade, these are often called "Double-Sided Pyrite Ammonites" or "Filigree" specimens.

Why They Look Different

Unlike the previous specimen that was still stuck in the dark rock (matrix), these have been carefully cleaned—likely using a specialized air-abrasive tool or a mild acid bath—to remove the surrounding shale.

  • The "Hollow" Look: You can see into the individual camerae (chambers). In life, these were filled with gas and liquid to help the animal float. During fossilization, the pyrite coated the walls of these chambers but didn't always fill them solid, leaving that beautiful, skeletal appearance.
  • The Suture Lines: Notice the complex, wavy "frills" on the edges of the cut specimens. These are ammonitic sutures. They acted like internal structural bracing, allowing the shell to withstand the high pressure of deep water.

Specific Details

  • Origin: These most commonly come from the Ryazan region of Russia or Germany. The Russian specimens are particularly famous for this bright, brassy "filigree" style.
  • Age: These are typically from the Cretaceous or Jurassic periods (roughly 110 to 160 million years ago).
  • Metal Luster: The metallic sheen is Iron Pyrite ($FeS_2$). If you look at the larger ones toward the top, you can see how the pyrite has formed a "crust" that mimics the original shell's shape perfectly.