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Mazon Creek Fossil Annularia Calamite Leaves Carboniferous Illinois USA with Certificate of Authenticity

Mazon Creek Fossil Annularia Calamite Leaves Carboniferous Illinois USA with Certificate of Authenticity

£12.60

This listing is for a remarkable Mazon Creek Fossil Annularia, representing the foliage of the ancient calamite tree from the Carboniferous Period. Discovered in the world-famous fossil beds of Illinois, USA, this specimen dates back approximately 307–309 million years and showcases the delicate whorled leaf arrangements of one of the most iconic plants of the Carboniferous coal swamps.

Every fossil we supply is 100% genuine and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. The photographs show the exact specimen you will receive, accompanied by a 1 cm scale cube for accurate sizing. Please consult the images for complete size details.

Geological Context and Preservation

The fossil originates from the Francis Creek Shale, a deposit within the Pennsylvanian Subperiod of the Carboniferous. At this time, Illinois was positioned near the equator and dominated by immense swamp forests. These forests included giant lycopsids, tree ferns, seed ferns, and calamites, which thrived in the warm, humid, lowland floodplains.

The extraordinary preservation of Mazon Creek fossils is due to rapid burial of plant material in fine silts and clays in a deltaic estuarine environment. Iron minerals in the sediments quickly formed concretions around the decaying organic matter, sealing it from decomposition and preserving even the most delicate details. These nodules, when split open, reveal plant and animal fossils in exceptional clarity. The quality of preservation at Mazon Creek makes it a globally significant Konservat-Lagerstätte—a site renowned for exceptional fossil deposits.

Fossil Annularia – The Leaves of Calamites

Annularia refers to the foliage of the genus Calamites, an extinct relative of modern horsetails (Equisetales). Calamites were large, tree-like plants that grew up to 20 metres in height, with jointed, bamboo-like stems that dominated swamp and floodplain habitats. Their leaves, preserved here as Annularia, were arranged in distinctive whorls radiating from the stem nodes, a feature clearly visible in well-preserved specimens.

The fossilised leaves exhibit the characteristic circular leaf whorls, ranging from five to over a dozen leaves per node, depending on the species. These leaves played a vital role in photosynthesis, and their unique arrangement is one of the diagnostic features palaeobotanists use to identify calamites. Fossils of Annularia are scientifically important as they provide insights into the morphology, growth patterns, and ecological roles of calamite trees within Carboniferous swamp ecosystems.

Scientific and Collector Significance

Mazon Creek fossils have been studied since the 19th century and continue to yield valuable insights into ancient ecosystems. Annularia fossils are particularly prized because they represent one of the dominant plants of the Carboniferous forests that ultimately gave rise to the vast coal deposits of North America and Europe. They are significant for reconstructing the ecology of these forests and understanding the evolution of vascular plants.

For collectors, Annularia specimens from Mazon Creek are sought-after both for their aesthetic appeal and for their palaeobotanical importance. Their symmetrical whorled leaf patterns make them visually striking, while their rarity and scientific value ensure they remain desirable pieces for any fossil collection.

Your Guarantee of Authenticity

  • 100% genuine fossil Annularia (Calamite leaves) from Mazon Creek, Illinois, USA
  • Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity
  • Exact specimen shown in photographs (no stock images)
  • Scale cube = 1 cm (see images for accurate sizing)

This Mazon Creek Fossil Annularia (Calamite Leaves) is a stunning and scientifically significant specimen from one of the most important fossil sites in the world. It captures the beauty and structure of Carboniferous swamp vegetation, preserved in stone for over 300 million years.

(Actual as seen)

Only 1 left in stock

SKU: FP8576 Category:

Description

This listing is for a remarkable Mazon Creek Fossil Annularia, representing the foliage of the ancient calamite tree from the Carboniferous Period. Discovered in the world-famous fossil beds of Illinois, USA, this specimen dates back approximately 307–309 million years and showcases the delicate whorled leaf arrangements of one of the most iconic plants of the Carboniferous coal swamps.

Every fossil we supply is 100% genuine and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. The photographs show the exact specimen you will receive, accompanied by a 1 cm scale cube for accurate sizing. Please consult the images for complete size details.

Geological Context and Preservation

The fossil originates from the Francis Creek Shale, a deposit within the Pennsylvanian Subperiod of the Carboniferous. At this time, Illinois was positioned near the equator and dominated by immense swamp forests. These forests included giant lycopsids, tree ferns, seed ferns, and calamites, which thrived in the warm, humid, lowland floodplains.

The extraordinary preservation of Mazon Creek fossils is due to rapid burial of plant material in fine silts and clays in a deltaic estuarine environment. Iron minerals in the sediments quickly formed concretions around the decaying organic matter, sealing it from decomposition and preserving even the most delicate details. These nodules, when split open, reveal plant and animal fossils in exceptional clarity. The quality of preservation at Mazon Creek makes it a globally significant Konservat-Lagerstätte—a site renowned for exceptional fossil deposits.

Fossil Annularia – The Leaves of Calamites

Annularia refers to the foliage of the genus Calamites, an extinct relative of modern horsetails (Equisetales). Calamites were large, tree-like plants that grew up to 20 metres in height, with jointed, bamboo-like stems that dominated swamp and floodplain habitats. Their leaves, preserved here as Annularia, were arranged in distinctive whorls radiating from the stem nodes, a feature clearly visible in well-preserved specimens.

The fossilised leaves exhibit the characteristic circular leaf whorls, ranging from five to over a dozen leaves per node, depending on the species. These leaves played a vital role in photosynthesis, and their unique arrangement is one of the diagnostic features palaeobotanists use to identify calamites. Fossils of Annularia are scientifically important as they provide insights into the morphology, growth patterns, and ecological roles of calamite trees within Carboniferous swamp ecosystems.

Scientific and Collector Significance

Mazon Creek fossils have been studied since the 19th century and continue to yield valuable insights into ancient ecosystems. Annularia fossils are particularly prized because they represent one of the dominant plants of the Carboniferous forests that ultimately gave rise to the vast coal deposits of North America and Europe. They are significant for reconstructing the ecology of these forests and understanding the evolution of vascular plants.

For collectors, Annularia specimens from Mazon Creek are sought-after both for their aesthetic appeal and for their palaeobotanical importance. Their symmetrical whorled leaf patterns make them visually striking, while their rarity and scientific value ensure they remain desirable pieces for any fossil collection.

Your Guarantee of Authenticity

  • 100% genuine fossil Annularia (Calamite leaves) from Mazon Creek, Illinois, USA
  • Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity
  • Exact specimen shown in photographs (no stock images)
  • Scale cube = 1 cm (see images for accurate sizing)

This Mazon Creek Fossil Annularia (Calamite Leaves) is a stunning and scientifically significant specimen from one of the most important fossil sites in the world. It captures the beauty and structure of Carboniferous swamp vegetation, preserved in stone for over 300 million years.

Additional information

Era

Carboniferous
Origin

USA

Carboniferous Information

The Carboniferous Period (359–299 million years ago) was a time of vast forests, giant insects, and the first reptiles. Named for its extensive coal deposits, this period saw lush swamps filled with towering lycophyte trees, ferns, and horsetails, which would later become today’s coal reserves. The climate was warm and humid, with high oxygen levels fueling the growth of giant arthropods like the dragonfly-like Meganeura and the massive millipede Arthropleura. Amphibians thrived in swampy environments, while the first reptiles evolved, laying eggs on land. In the oceans, sharks and early bony fish dominated, and corals flourished in warm, shallow seas. The period ended with a cooling climate and glaciation, leading to the drying of swamps and the decline of many species.

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