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

Description

Genuine Carboniferous Leaf Plant Fossil – Westphalian Coal Measures Specimen

Offered here is an authentic Carboniferous leaf plant fossil, preserved within the famous Westphalian Coal Measures of northern England. Leaf fossils from this period are highly prized for their beauty and their connection to the vast prehistoric coal swamp forests that once covered Britain more than 300 million years ago.

This specimen comes from Houghton Colliery, Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham, UK, a classic historic Coal Measures locality renowned for producing important fossil plant material. The fossil is a carefully selected piece, chosen for its clarity, preservation, and strong display appeal. The photographs show the exact fossil you will receive, and full sizing details can be seen clearly in the images provided.

Each specimen is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity with lifetime guarantee, included as a generic authenticity card to permanently accompany this genuine fossil.

Geological Age and Formation – Westphalian Coal Measures

This fossil dates to the Westphalian Stage of the late Carboniferous Period, approximately 310–315 million years old. During this extraordinary interval of Earth history, Britain was located near the equator and experienced a warm, humid tropical climate. Vast wetlands and swamp forests flourished, dominated by dense plant growth.

The Westphalian Coal Measures were deposited in low-lying delta plains, river flood basins, and swamp environments where vegetation accumulated rapidly. Thick organic layers became buried beneath fine silts and muds in oxygen-poor conditions, preventing decay and allowing delicate plant remains such as leaves and fronds to fossilise in remarkable detail.

These same deposits later transformed into the coal seams that helped shape Britain’s industrial heritage.

Fossil Type – Preserved Leaf from Prehistoric Coal Forests

Leaf fossils from the Carboniferous provide an exceptional window into the flora of ancient coal swamp ecosystems. These plants formed the foundation of lush prehistoric forests long before the age of dinosaurs.

The Carboniferous Period is famous for its giant clubmoss trees, seed ferns, horsetails, and early fern groups, many of which contributed vast amounts of plant debris that ultimately formed coal. Fossilised leaves represent some of the most direct evidence of these extinct ecosystems and are among the most recognisable and display-worthy plant fossils available.

This specimen captures an authentic fragment of Carboniferous vegetation, preserved naturally for hundreds of millions of years.

Morphology and Preservation Features

This fossil preserves the flattened impression of ancient plant leaf material, often showing fine surface texture and natural patterning. Leaf fossils from the Coal Measures are typically preserved as carbonised compressions within shale, producing striking contrast between the fossil and its surrounding matrix.

Such specimens are valued not only for their scientific interest but also for their aesthetic appeal, making them excellent additions to display cabinets, study collections, or educational exhibits.

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 plant fossils. Specimens from this locality are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain as traditional coal exposures decline, adding both rarity and provenance value to this piece.

Owning a fossil from this region connects directly to Britain’s globally significant Carboniferous coalfield history.

Authenticity, Display and Collecting

This is a 100% genuine Carboniferous leaf plant fossil 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 fossil leaf from Britain’s ancient tropical coal swamps, preserved for over 300 million years and supplied with a lifetime Certificate of Authenticity.