Mined from: Buttenheim Clay Pit, Franconia (Bavaria), Germany

Era: Jurassic Period (Lower Jurassic, Toarcian Stage)
Geological Age: Approximately 180–190 million years old

Description: Belemnites are the fossilized internal guards of extinct squid-like cephalopods that lived in ancient seas during the Jurassic. Specimens from the Buttenheim Clay Pit in Franconia are particularly well known for their preservation within fine-grained marine sediments, often retaining smooth, bullet-shaped forms with distinct pointed ends. These fossils represent the solid internal support structure of the animal, which helped with buoyancy and stability as it moved through the water.

The Buttenheim deposit is part of a marine sedimentary sequence formed in a shallow epicontinental sea that once covered much of what is now southern Germany. Fine clay and marl accumulated on the seafloor, burying organic remains in low-energy conditions that limited decay and disturbance. Over millions of years, these sediments compacted into rock, preserving belemnite guards along with ammonites and other marine fossils that provide a detailed snapshot of Jurassic marine ecosystems.

Belemnites are often associated with direction, focus, and resilience. Their streamlined, pointed shape gives them a sense of purpose and forward motion, and many people are drawn to them as symbols of clarity and determination through long stretches of time. They carry a strong connection to ancient oceans and the persistence of life across massive geological change.

Tags: belemnite fossil, germany fossil, franconia fossil, buttenheim clay pit, jurassic

Small
Approximate Size of 1 piece: 59mm x 17mm x 11mm
Approximate Weight of 1 piece: 16.5g

Large
Approximate Size of 1 piece: 70mm x 20mm x 15mm
Approximate Weight of 1 piece: 30g

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.