Among the extraordinary treasures hidden beneath the sands of Coober Pedy, few discoveries are as breathtaking or as scientifically significant as an opalized Plesiosaur tooth. This remarkable specimen blends natural history with gemstone beauty, capturing a moment from Australia’s ancient oceans millions of years ago.
A Glimpse Into a Prehistoric Ocean
Long before Coober Pedy became a world-famous opal field, the region was submerged beneath a vast prehistoric sea. During the Jurassic period, powerful marine reptiles such as Plesiosaurs hunted in these waters. With long necks, powerful bodies, and razor-sharp teeth, they were apex predators of the ancient ocean.
The tooth featured here originates from the Jurassic layer beneath Coober Pedy a direct link to one of Earth’s most legendary marine reptiles.
An Ancient Tooth Transformed by Opal
Over millions of years, silica-rich water seeped through the fossilized remains of these creatures. In rare cases, the original tooth structure was replaced, molecule by molecule, with precious opal turning prehistoric bone into a gemstone.
This stunning specimen displays:
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Crystal opal body
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Flashes of purple fire
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Natural tooth shape completely intact
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Scars and markings from ancient predatory behavior
These small scars tell a story. Marine predators like Plesiosaurs often broke, chipped, and shed teeth throughout their lives especially when biting into prey. Finding such a tooth preserved with visible markings and transformed into opal is extraordinarily rare.
Specifications
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Gemstone Type: Opalised Fossil Plesiosaur Tooth
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Shape: Natural prehistoric tooth
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Color: Crystal opal with purple highlights
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Size: 15 × 4 × 4 mm
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Weight: 1.34 ct
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Origin: Mined at Coober Pedy, South Australia
Every detail from its compact shape to its ancient scars adds to the tooth’s authenticity and scientific significance.
Why This Specimen Is So Rare
Opalized dinosaur material from Coober Pedy is already exceptionally scarce. But opalized marine reptile teeth, especially Plesiosaur, are among the rarest fossil opals ever found. Most marine fossils transform only partially or crumble before opalisation can occur.
To find:
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a complete tooth,
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in clear crystal opal,
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with purple fire,
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fully intact,
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and scientifically identifiable…
…is something most collectors and museums will never have the chance to acquire.
A True Collector’s Treasure
This opalized Plesiosaur tooth is more than a gemstone it is a prehistoric relic, a geological wonder, and a once-in-a-lifetime collectible. Perfect for fossil enthusiasts, opal collectors, museum-grade assemblages, or anyone captivated by the rare intersection of natural history and precious gemstones.
An apex predator of the Jurassic sea, preserved forever in glowing opal there are few treasures on Earth as rare or as magical as this.