A fossilised Clam with Calcite from Ruck’s Pit, Florida. This specimen displays well terminated golden Calcite points within the fossilised shell. When exposed to short wave UV light the Calcite fluoresces green, and subsequently shows excellent green phosphorescence.
10 x 5 x 11.5cm
0.360kg
Comes with stand as pictured.
Only 1 left in stock
An exceptional fossilised Clam from the world-famous Ruck’s Pit in Florida, preserved with sparkling Calcite crystals filling the ancient shell cavities. The contrast between the fossil’s original form and the glittering crystal-lined interior creates a remarkable combination of palaeontology and mineralogy, making each specimen completely unique.
The cavities within the shell became ideal spaces for Calcite crystals to grow, transforming an ordinary fossil into a spectacular natural treasure. Under shortwave UV light, the Calcite fluoresces before continuing to phosphoresce a vivid green, retaining its glow for up to 7 seconds after the UV source has been removed – an uncommon and highly desirable feature that adds another dimension to these already fascinating specimens.
Ruck’s Pit, located in Okeechobee County, Florida, is one of the world’s most famous fossil localities and the only known source of these remarkable crystal-filled clams. Dating to the Pliocene Epoch, approximately 3–5 million years ago, the site was once covered by a warm, shallow sea rich in marine life.
After the clams were buried in sediment, their shells remained while the original shell material gradually dissolved, leaving hollow cavities. Over millions of years, mineral-rich groundwater percolated through the surrounding sediments, allowing Calcite crystals to slowly grow within the voids. The result is an extraordinary natural combination of fossil preservation and crystal formation found nowhere else in the world.
Many specimens from Ruck’s Pit also display fluorescent and phosphorescent Calcite, making them especially sought after by both fossil enthusiasts and mineral collectors.
Ruck’s Pit Clams occupy a unique place in the collecting world, bridging the gap between fossils and minerals. Their extraordinary mode of preservation, combined with sparkling Calcite crystals and the added rarity of fluorescence and phosphorescence, makes them unlike almost any other natural specimen. As material from this iconic Florida locality becomes increasingly difficult to obtain, fine examples continue to be highly prized by collectors worldwide.
For a brief period, this small cement quarry produced some of the world’s most sought-after crystal-lined fossils. The quarry was flooded and closed in 2006, meaning no new material has been recovered since – making these increasingly difficult to acquire. However before the pit flooded, Eddie Rucks removed some of the crystal clam productive layer and dumped it down the road by his barn where he ran a small commercial operation he called “Ft. Drum Crystal Mine”. For a fee he allowed people to dig through the piles and keep what they found. Not surprisingly, as years went by the piles produced less and less.
| Weight | 0.360 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 10.0 × 5.0 × 11.5 cm |
To assist customers in “stretching” to higher-value specimens, we are happy to work with you on payment plans for orders over £150 with terms starting from 2 months all the way to 12 months for larger purchases . Full payment must be made within the calendar year.
Payment plans are not applicable for items that are discounted or on sale.
1. A 25% NON-REFUNDABLE down payment is required to initiate the payment plan and reserve the item(s), due immediately upon receipt of the first invoice. This 25% will be of the total purchase price including shipping and taxes (if applicable). If you’d like to put down more than 25%, we can adjust the remaining payments accordingly.
2. The remaining 75% (or less, if more than 25% was paid initially) will be divided into monthly payments of equal amounts to be completed within the calendar year. The number of payments is subject to discussion with a member of staff who will work closely with clients to custom tailor payment plans.
3. Clients will receive an invoice to initiate payment – subsequent invoices will be emailed to you monthly. Cancellation or failure to pay invoices with a lapse of 10 days will result in cancellation of the payment plan and forfeiture of the item and 25% non-refundable deposit and admin fee. Any amount paid in excess of the non-refundable deposit would be refunded via the method of payment used.
4. There is no penalty for early payment. At any time, clients may reach out to a sales team member to pay the remaining balance in full.
5. Upon completion of the payment plan in full, the specimen(s) will be shipped to the client.
6. Items purchased via payment plan are subject to a no-refund policy. Items may be returned at the expense of the buyer for credit equal to the item price (minus taxes and shipping costs) to be applied to any other full price item in inventory. Unused credit will not be refunded in these cases.
If you have any additional questions, please reach out to a member of the sales team
To observe the phosphorescence, expose the calcite within the fossilized clam to shortwave UV light. After removing the UV source, the calcite will continue to glow a vivid green for up to 7 seconds.
This exceptional fossilized clam with calcite crystals originates from the world-famous Ruck’s Pit in Okeechobee, Florida. This locality is renowned for producing such unique mineral and fossil combinations.
Yes, this fossilized clam specimen is supplied with a display stand, as pictured on the product page. This allows for immediate and stable presentation of the unique piece.
Each specimen is completely unique due to the natural formation of calcite crystals within the ancient shell cavities. Currently, there is only one of this specific fossilized clam with phosphorescent calcite available in stock.
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