Description: This coal-age fern fossil sample was found near St Clair, Pennsylvania which is world-famous for producing such fossils with striking “white-on-black” color contrast. The site has since been closed to further collecting. These extinct prehistoric fossil “seed ferns” developed in the Carboniferous period (around 300-360 million years ago). Although they resembled modern ferns, they instead reproduced by means of seeds. Seed ferns eventually went extinct around 73 million years ago, while dinosaurs were still around. Fossils from St Clair, PA specifically date to the Llewellyn Formation (300-308 million). These fossil ferns are about the same age as those also found in the famous Mazon Creek formation in Illinois. Believe it or not, these colors are fully natural! These ancient plants fell into a swampy bog where a low temperature, low pressure, and oxygen-depleted environment evolved the plant tissue into pyrite, which was later replaced with pyrophyllite (aluminum silicate) creating the bold white color contrasting with the black shale. Completely natural! No repair or restoration. No paint or touch up. Nature and time are the artists. You get the fossil fern frond leaf shown, of the genus Neuropteris. Nice example exhibiting the classic white-on-black preservation. Detailed preservation - can see tiny veins in the leaf. Also a great Annularia with stem branches.
Price: 9.95 USD
Location: Shepherdstown, West Virginia
End Time: 2024-04-01T17:35:43.000Z
Shipping Cost: 4.99 USD
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All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
