What makes the prices of Ammonites (and all items) vary so widely?
There are several factors and many apply to all the rocks fossils and minerals. Rarity is an obvious differential but relative quality and condition are very important factors and the aspect of what makes something of “better” quality will vary in each particular subject. In most cases it is a matter simply of appearance but often a particularly special characteristic. As far as Ammonites are concerned they will vary in quality for several reasons… for example the ones that are from Morocco such as those displayed on the website are extremely well preserved this is due to the climatic differences as the much dryer conditions mean that unlike a similar specimen possibly from the UK they have not suffered the same weathering from acid rain and erosion. There are also many different types of ammonite which will have different characteristics depending on where they came from and the prevailing mineral deposits surrounding the fossilisation. For example the Craspedites from Russia which
