{"product_id":"large-coprolite-fossil-21953","title":"Large Coprolite Fossil 16cm","description":"\u003ch2\u003eTurtle Coprolite Fossils For Sale From Madagascar\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis detailed, \u003cstrong\u003eHigh-Grade Large Coprolite Fossil\u003c\/strong\u003e from an ancient turtle measures 16cm long and was found in the Besiboko area of \u003cstrong\u003eMadagascar\u003c\/strong\u003e, dating from the \u003cstrong\u003eEocene Period\u003c\/strong\u003e (this means it is around \u003cstrong\u003e50 million years old\u003c\/strong\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Are Coprolite Fossils?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoprolites \u003c\/strong\u003eare fossilised faeces\/ \u003cstrong\u003efossilised poo \u003c\/strong\u003efrom ancient creatures: this Coprolite fossil is from a \u003cstrong\u003emarine turtle that lived millions of years ago\u003c\/strong\u003e: around\u003cstrong\u003e 50 million years ago\u003c\/strong\u003e, in fact. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Does Coprolite Mean?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe term '\u003cstrong\u003eCoprolite\u003c\/strong\u003e' derives from the Greek word 'Kopros' which means dung, and the word 'Lithos', which means stone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEssentially, Coprolite means \"\u003cstrong\u003eDung Stone\u003c\/strong\u003e\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere Do Coprolite Fossils Come From? \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost \u003cstrong\u003eCoprolite Fossils\u003c\/strong\u003e come from marine animals and other \u003cstrong\u003esea creatures\u003c\/strong\u003e such as fish, and therefore are found in countries with access to the ocean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMadagascar\u003c\/strong\u003e is an island famous for its crystal and fossil riches: Coprolite Fossils found on Madagascan shores tend to be of the utmost quality. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Do Coprolite Fossils Form?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the formation of \u003cstrong\u003eCoprolite Fossils\u003c\/strong\u003e, the waste deposits of ancient creatures, (such as those from the turtle that made this Coprolite), are replaced over millions of years by \u003cstrong\u003eminerals\u003c\/strong\u003e such \u003cstrong\u003eSiderite\u003c\/strong\u003e, a valuable \u003cstrong\u003eiron mineral\u003c\/strong\u003e which contains around 48% iron.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe slow \u003cstrong\u003emineral replacement\u003c\/strong\u003e in Coprolites is the \u003cstrong\u003efossilisation process\u003c\/strong\u003e in action, transforming them into the fossils we find today, many millions of years later. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Are Coprolite Fossils Made Of? \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoprolite Fossils\u003c\/strong\u003e tend to be formed of indigestible matter consumed by the creature and then excreted in their waste: this matter, such as the \u003cstrong\u003eshells\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eteeth\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003ebones\u003c\/strong\u003e of other creatures they have eaten, does not break down quickly or easily, and therefore can be \u003cstrong\u003efossilised\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost organic matter found in faeces \u003cstrong\u003edecays\u003c\/strong\u003e very quickly, and this means that the \u003cstrong\u003eslow mineral replacement\u003c\/strong\u003e key to the \u003cstrong\u003efossilisation process \u003c\/strong\u003ethat \u003cstrong\u003ecreates Coprolite Fossils \u003c\/strong\u003ecannot take place, hence why \u003cstrong\u003eCoprolites\u003c\/strong\u003e aren't extremely common.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, the faeces of creatures that contained matter slow to decay, such as teeth, bones, and shells, was sometimes able to be \u003cstrong\u003etransformed into Coprolite Fossils.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoprolite Fossils\u003c\/strong\u003e were able to form because the \u003cstrong\u003erate of decomposition\u003c\/strong\u003e of the Coprolite matter was slow enough to ensure there was time for the crucial \u003cstrong\u003emineral replacement fossilisation process\u003c\/strong\u003e to take place: the \u003cstrong\u003eCoprolite was mineralised\u003c\/strong\u003e, encased, and \u003cstrong\u003epreserved\u003c\/strong\u003e with \u003cstrong\u003efossil minerals\u003c\/strong\u003e before it had the time to \u003cstrong\u003edecompose\u003c\/strong\u003e into nothing. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCoprolite Fossil Collections\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach \u003cstrong\u003eCoprolite Fossil \u003c\/strong\u003edisplays unique patterns, shapes, and colours, and are a fascinating vestige of \u003cstrong\u003efossil history\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA \u003cstrong\u003eCoprolite Fossil\u003c\/strong\u003e is an essential addition to any\u003cstrong\u003e Fossil Collection\u003c\/strong\u003e, and makes for a great \u003cstrong\u003efossil gift\u003c\/strong\u003e, especially as a \u003cstrong\u003efossil gift for children\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBuy Coprolite Fossils Online\u003c\/strong\u003e at Madagascan Direct. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eProduct Reference Number:\u003c\/em\u003e 21953\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Madagascan Direct","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56014676623700,"sku":"21953","price":24.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/5766\/9716\/files\/coprolite-fossil-219532.jpg?v=1780501155","url":"https:\/\/www.madagascandirect.com\/products\/large-coprolite-fossil-21953","provider":"Madagascan Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}