Stone Mania

Orthoceras fossil is considered to be a gemstone and pieces are very rarely seen used in jewellery

Orthoceras is an extinct sea creature that belonged to a group known as 'orthocone nautiloides'.  Orthoceras is the ancestor of ammonites and squids but their shells were straight as opposed to coiled.  The name Orthoceras means 'straight horn' referring to its characteristic long, straight conical shell. 

Orthoceras fossils date back to the silurian age and were among the earliest forms of life but even so, are believed to have been the most intelligent of all sea creatures.  Ranging in length from a few inches to over six foot, they could swim as well as crawl along the ocean floor.  By filling the chambers in their shells with air, Orthoceras' could move through the water propelling themselves by squirting out jets of water.

As the Orthoceras died, their shells accumulated on the ocean floor and were covered by sediments which over millions of years transformed them into stone.  

Orthoceras' are abundant in south east Morocco where they are very well preserved in black limestone.  They can also be found in other locations around the world.

The following links offer further reading on Orthoceras

http://www.fossils-facts-and-finds.com/orthoceras.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthoceras

Click here to view our exclusive collection of Orthoceras pendants