Notes specific to this specimen: One of a kind unbelievable specimen! This was dug out in 2023 as several pieces that have been reconstructed into a continuous matrix piece with breathtaking beauty. This is the largest crystal clam matrix specimen in the world. There are over 50 crystalized fossil clams, two crystalized conchs, along with scallops, olive shells, welks, corals and hundreds of other fossil shells in this magnificent museum piece.

HOW THEY FORMED
The area around Lake Okeechobee, Florida was a shallow sea about 2 million years ago. These clams lived in the sandy mud near the shoreline at the time. Sudden storm events – such as hurricanes and tropical storms – periodically buried the area under deep sediments, trapping the clams and other shellfish that lived there. As their bodies decayed, the process left behind cavities in the shells. With the heat and pressure that accompanied the pile-up of sediments, the original shell material (aragonite) became unstable and began to dissolve away. As it happened this provided the elements necessary to grow pure calcite crystals in the open spaces within some of the shells. It has a sturdy backing of plywood with an aluminum frame allowing this piece to be hung either vertically or horizontally. It’s currently on display at 1889 Studios, in the Uptown Rapid (formerly Rushmore Mall) complex in Rapid City, SD. Contact us for shipping options.

SIZE: 3′ x 6′ x 10″

NAME: Mercenaria permagna
AGE: Plio-Pleistocene – 2 million years
UNIT: Nashua Formation
SITE: Okeechobee County, Florida
DATE: 2023

Documentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin. In addition, an informative display card accompanies the specimen