Carboniferous Fossil Wood Coal Measures UK Specimen Westphalian Houghton Colliery County Durham Genuine COA Included

Description

Genuine Carboniferous Fossil Wood – Westphalian Coal Measures Specimen

Offered here is an authentic and highly collectible Carboniferous fossil wood specimen, preserved from the renowned Westphalian Coal Measures of northern England. Fossil wood from this period represents the ancient forests that once covered Britain in vast tropical swamp environments over 300 million years ago, long before the age of dinosaurs.

This specimen comes from Houghton Colliery, Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham, UK, a classic historic Coal Measures locality famous for producing significant fossil plant material. The fossil is a carefully chosen piece, selected for its character, preservation, and display appeal. The listing photographs show the exact specimen you will receive, with full sizing details clearly visible in the images provided.

Every purchase includes a Certificate of Authenticity with lifetime guarantee, supplied as a generic authenticity card to permanently accompany the fossil.

Geological Age and Formation – Westphalian Coal Measures

This fossil wood dates to the Westphalian Stage of the late Carboniferous Period, approximately 310–315 million years old. At this time, Britain lay close to the equator and supported warm, humid tropical climates. Vast lowland rainforests and swamp forests thrived, creating one of the richest plant ecosystems in Earth’s history.

The Coal Measures were deposited in swampy delta plains, river flood basins, and waterlogged wetlands. Dense vegetation accumulated rapidly, and thick layers of plant debris became buried beneath fine silts and mudstones. Oxygen-poor conditions slowed decay, allowing plant remains such as wood, bark, and stems to fossilise.

Over millions of years, these deposits transformed into the coal seams that later fuelled Britain’s industrial revolution.

Fossil Type – Preserved Wood from Prehistoric Coal Forests

Fossil wood from the Carboniferous is especially significant because it comes from some of the earliest large forest ecosystems on Earth. These forests were dominated not by modern trees, but by giant clubmosses, horsetails, early conifers, and seed ferns, many growing to enormous sizes.

Wood fossils represent the structural backbone of these ancient swamp forests. Preserved trunks, branches, and woody tissues provide direct evidence of how these plants grew, supported themselves, and contributed to the vast organic material that formed coal deposits worldwide.

Carboniferous fossil wood specimens are valued for both their scientific importance and their striking connection to Earth’s deep botanical past.

Morphology and Preservation Features

This specimen preserves natural fossilised woody material within its original Coal Measures matrix. Fossil wood from these deposits is often preserved as carbonised or mineralised fragments, sometimes showing distinctive textures, grain patterns, or structural impressions depending on burial conditions.

Such fossils offer an exceptional glimpse into the dense vegetation of Carboniferous wetlands, capturing parts of the ancient forest floor and providing a tangible link to prehistoric ecosystems.

This piece is ideal for display, study, or inclusion in a palaeobotanical collection.

Locality – Houghton Colliery, County Durham, England

Houghton Colliery is one of County Durham’s historic coal mining sites, well known among collectors for producing classic Westphalian fossil plants. Specimens from this locality are increasingly scarce today as traditional coal exposures decline, adding rarity and provenance value to this fossil wood piece.

Owning a fossil from this region connects directly with Britain’s world-famous Carboniferous coalfield heritage.

Authenticity, Display and Collecting

This is a 100% genuine Carboniferous fossil wood specimen, ideal for:

• Fossil and mineral collectors
• Carboniferous coal forest enthusiasts
• Educational geology and natural history displays
• Unique gifts from deep geological time

A remarkable opportunity to own an authentic piece of Britain’s ancient tropical coal swamp forest, preserved for over 300 million years and supplied with a lifetime Certificate of Authenticity.