Coprolite Fossil 8cm

Turtle Coprolite Fossils For Sale From Madagascar

This detailed, High-Grade Coprolite Fossil from an ancient turtle measures 8cm long and was found in the Besiboko area of Madagascar, dating from the Eocene Period (this means it is around 50 million years old).

What Are Coprolite Fossils?

Coprolites are fossilised faeces/ fossilised poo from ancient creatures: this Coprolite fossil is from a marine turtle that lived millions of years ago: around 50 million years ago, in fact. 

What Does Coprolite Mean?

The term 'Coprolite' derives from the Greek word 'Kopros' which means dung, and the word 'Lithos', which means stone.

Essentially, Coprolite means "Dung Stone".

Where Do Coprolite Fossils Come From? 

Most Coprolite Fossils come from marine animals and other sea creatures such as fish, and therefore are found in countries with access to the ocean.

Madagascar is an island famous for its crystal and fossil riches: Coprolite Fossils found on Madagascan shores tend to be of the utmost quality. 

How Do Coprolite Fossils Form?

During the formation of Coprolite Fossils, the waste deposits of ancient creatures, (such as those from the turtle that made this Coprolite), are replaced over millions of years by minerals such Siderite, a valuable iron mineral which contains around 48% iron.

The slow mineral replacement in Coprolites is the fossilisation process in action, transforming them into the fossils we find today, many millions of years later. 

What Are Coprolite Fossils Made Of? 

Coprolite Fossils tend to be formed of indigestible matter consumed by the creature and then excreted in their waste: this matter, such as the shells, teeth, and bones of other creatures they have eaten, does not break down quickly or easily, and therefore can be fossilised. 

Most organic matter found in faeces decays very quickly, and this means that the slow mineral replacement key to the fossilisation process that creates Coprolite Fossils cannot take place, hence why Coprolites aren't extremely common.

However, the faeces of creatures that contained matter slow to decay, such as teeth, bones, and shells, was sometimes able to be transformed into Coprolite Fossils.

Coprolite Fossils were able to form because the rate of decomposition of the Coprolite matter was slow enough to ensure there was time for the crucial mineral replacement fossilisation process to take place: the Coprolite was mineralised, encased, and preserved with fossil minerals before it had the time to decompose into nothing. 

Coprolite Fossil Collections

Each Coprolite Fossil displays unique patterns, shapes, and colours, and are a fascinating vestige of fossil history. 

A Coprolite Fossil is an essential addition to any Fossil Collection, and makes for a great fossil gift, especially as a fossil gift for children. 

Buy Coprolite Fossils Online at Madagascan Direct. 

Product Reference Number: 18452