Friday, May 4, 2012

Echinosphaerites aurantium Cystoid





These images show some interesting fossils found on the island of Öland off the Swedish coast (Suède). Fossils are Ordovician Period cystoids in the matrix from about 465 million years ago. They are identified as Echinosphaerites aurantium. The interesting thing about them is some are yellow fluorescent under longwave UV light.  See picture below.

UPDATE: Christian P. told me in an e-mail,  in Sweden these fossils are called "the Linné's apples".  Named after the Swedish botanist Carl Nilsson Linnæus. Learn more at wikipedia.

Thanks to Dave for the fossils and Christian for finding them in Sweden!