Alnus parvifolia Fossil Leaf, Tranquille Shale, Early–Middle Eocene, Cache Creek BC Canada | Authentic Specimen + COA

Description

Alnus parvifolia Fossil Leaf – Tranquille Shale, Early–Middle Eocene, Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada

This exquisitely preserved leaf belongs to Alnus parvifolia, an extinct species of alder that thrived in North America’s lush Eocene forests. This fossil comes from the renowned Tranquille Shale, part of the Kamloops Group, near Cache Creek, British Columbia, and dates to the Early–Middle Eocene Epoch, around 52 to 48 million years ago.

Fossil Type & Species:

• Type: Plant Fossil (Dicot Leaf)
• Species: Alnus parvifolia
• Phylum: Tracheophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
• Order: Fagales
• Family: Betulaceae (Birch Family)
• Genus: Alnus
• Described by: Knowlton & Berry (early 20th-century North American paleobotany)

Geological & Stratigraphic Details:

• Location: Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada
• Formation: Tranquille Shale (Kamloops Group)
• Epoch: Early to Middle Eocene (Ypresian to Lutetian stages)
• Age: ~52–48 million years ago
• Depositional Environment: Ancient lacustrine (lake) setting with calm, low-oxygen bottom waters; ideal for the preservation of delicate plant material
• Biozone: McAbee Flora Lagerstätte

Morphology & Features:

• Ovate to elliptical leaf shape with pointed tip and broad base
• Finely serrated leaf margins typical of alder leaves
• Strong midrib and lateral vein structure clearly visible
• Opposite venation and secondary vein loops preserved in excellent detail
• Colouration in contrasting dark carbonised leaf impression on pale grey shale matrix

Notable: Alnus parvifolia is a key species from the McAbee Fossil Beds and other sites within the Tranquille Shale. It represents the early development of temperate angiosperm forests following the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). The genus Alnus survives today in temperate forests, and its Eocene ancestors provide vital clues to climate evolution and early flowering plant diversification.

Specimen Details:

• Origin: Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada
• Species: Alnus parvifolia
• Fossil Type: Compression Leaf (Dicotyledon)
• Geological Stage: Early–Middle Eocene
• Formation: Tranquille Shale
• Size Reference: Scale cube = 1cm (please refer to photos for exact dimensions)
• Note: The specimen shown in the listing photos is the one you will receive

Authenticity & Quality: All fossils are 100% genuine and professionally selected. This specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and has not been restored, altered, or enhanced.

Why Choose This Fossil? Ideal for:

• Fossil collectors and palaeobotanists
• Education in Earth history and plant evolution
• Natural history museum exhibits
• Decorative fossil display and eco-conscious gifting

Shipping & Packaging: All fossils are shipped with tracking and packaged securely using eco-conscious materials. We ensure each piece is handled with the utmost care.

Own a rare and scientifically significant Eocene plant fossil with this Alnus parvifolia leaf from the legendary Tranquille Shale.

All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.