Monday, July 25, 2011

Belemnitella americana - New Jersey

The Belemnitella americana fossil found in the Navesink Formation (Monmouth Group) of Sewell New Jersey.  When alive these belemnites swam around in the Cretaceous Period.  These fossils remind one of pointed bullet and have a nice amber color.  The part of the creature that fossilized is called a guard or rostrum. Learn more about this fossil at the njfossils.net web site: CLICK HERE.

Thanks to Phil and Stan for these fossils.  A couple of fossil nomads with a zest for adventure and good times.




This last picture is of the fossils taken in longwave ultraviolet (UV) light.  The fossil tips and a thin line running the length of the fossil fluoresce a yellow color.  A discussion of the fluorescent properties of this fossil are discussed at the Rockhounds forum: CLICK HERE