Mined from: Isle Of Sheppey, England

Era: Cenozoic
Geological Age: Approximately 33.9 - 56 million years ago

Description: These crab fossils from the Isle of Sheppey, England, offer a fascinating glimpse into prehistoric marine life. These fossils date back to the Eocene epoch, placing them roughly between 56 and 33.9 million years ago, during the Paleogene period. At this time, the area that is now the Isle of Sheppey was submerged under a shallow sea, providing a thriving habitat for a diverse range of marine organisms.

These fossils are encased in concretions, which are solid masses formed by the precipitation of mineral-rich fluids within sedimentary layers over millions of years. Concretions often develop around organic material, such as shells or bones, providing a protective environment that enhances fossil preservation. The concretions from the Isle of Sheppey are primarily composed of calcium carbonate minerals which precipitated from groundwater percolating through the sedimentary layers over geological time. The crabs preserved within these concretions belonged to various genera and species, contributing to the rich biodiversity of the Eocene marine environment. 

These fossil types are best worked with fossil prep tools and are not the kind meant to be cracked open with a hammer. You can try with a hammer, but you will almost certainly not succeed in bringing the crabs out beautifully.

Approximate Size of 1 piece: 50mm x 45mm x 30mm
Approximate Weight of 1 piece: 90g

Quantity: 1pc

We do our best to buy quality products- although not every rock is the same. If you choose to purchase the "staff pick option", we will select the best of the batch for you. Otherwise, it will be at random from the larger batch we have in stock.