• Wolf314159@startrek.website
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    2 days ago

    It belongs in a museum.

    It was sold at private auction.

    Woolly Mammoth Tusk Mammuthus primigenius Pleistocene Alaska, USA

    Some incredible specimens literally speak for themselves, and this superlative polished Woolly Mammoth Tusk is one such piece. Fondly termed “The Ocean,” for obvious reasons, this example measures a whopping 82 inches (208 cm) on the curve. The outstanding greenish-blue coloration is due to the replacement of the mineral Vivianite during the fossilization process of the ancient ivory. This tusk is beautiful for its intense coloration and boasts a nice curvature as well as an unusually thick form. Not only is this glorious piece a top echelon representation in terms of its exquisite color, the polished fossil is outstanding for condition with only minimal expected restoration to the tip and very minor crack fill. This is a truly striking piece in a custom metal armature that allows it to “float” into the air. The creative and clever mount allows for a dramatic and impactful display which highlights the size, shape and, most importantly, color of this tusk. There really are not enough superlatives to accurately describe the specimen, which absolutely is one of THE most visually stunning, well preserved, and overall superior tusks to grace the market in some time. Overall Measurements: 46.50 x 30.00 x 30.00 inches (118.11 x 76.20 x 76.20 cm)

    It was posted on Reddit in 2021. In 2026, the AI image search could only cite the Reddit, Instagram, and Xitter posts because the auction site has a captcha.

  • sit@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 days ago

    Are we sure it wasn’t just affect by fungus or bacteria?

    The blue areas have cracks which show that the tusk only has superficial blue markings

    • tychosmoose@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Apparently this is caused by a wet iron-rich site. The phosphate in bones/teeth/tusks combines with iron to form vivianite. Some varieties of the mineral turn blue when exposed to light. So the fossil finder watches it turn a shade of deep blue. Cool.

      • frunch@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        I love the deep, rich green these possess. Fascinating stuff! It’s been very interesting to learn about 🙂