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Mazon Creek Fossil Fish Coprolite Carboniferous Illinois USA with Certificate of Authenticity

Mazon Creek Fossil Fish Coprolite Carboniferous Illinois USA with Certificate of Authenticity

Original price was: £12.60.Current price is: £11.34.

This listing is for a genuine Mazon Creek Fossil Fish Coprolite from the world-famous fossil beds of Illinois, USA. Dating back to the Carboniferous Period (approximately 307–309 million years ago), this specimen offers an extraordinary window into the ancient ecosystems that thrived in the tropical swamps and deltas of what is now North America. Each fossil from Mazon Creek represents a remarkable moment frozen in time, preserved within ironstone concretions that formed rapidly around organic material, locking in fine details that would otherwise have been lost.

All of our fossils are carefully sourced, and this piece is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity, guaranteeing it as a 100% genuine specimen. The photograph shown is of the exact fossil you will receive. A 1 cm scale cube is included in the photo to give clear sizing—please see images for precise measurements.

Geological Origin and Formation

The Mazon Creek fossil beds are globally significant for their exceptional preservation. They belong to the Francis Creek Shale, a deposit laid down in the late Pennsylvanian subperiod of the Carboniferous. At this time, vast equatorial coal-forming swamps stretched across the region. The Mazon Creek concretions formed when fine silts and clays buried organic matter in a rapidly changing deltaic environment. Iron minerals in the sediment reacted with decaying material, creating protective concretions that sealed fossils inside.

This unique preservational process means that fossils from Mazon Creek often display extraordinary detail. Unlike typical fossilisation, which replaces organic structures with minerals, the rapid concretion formation preserved both hard and soft tissues in remarkable fidelity. This is why Mazon Creek is considered one of the world’s premier Konservat-Lagerstätten—sites of exceptional preservation.

Fossil Fish Coprolite – A Trace of Ancient Life

This specimen is a coprolite, or fossilised fish excrement. While not part of the animal’s anatomy, coprolites are vital trace fossils that reveal direct evidence of feeding behaviour, diet, and ecological interactions. Within the Mazon Creek deposits, fish coprolites are associated with ancient freshwater and estuarine species that swam through the Carboniferous waterways.

Characteristic features of fish coprolites include their elongated or spiral morphology, reflecting the digestive anatomy of the animal that produced them. In some specimens, inclusions such as undigested bone fragments or scales may be preserved, offering rare insights into predator-prey relationships from over 300 million years ago. The presence of these fossils helps palaeontologists reconstruct the food web of the Carboniferous swamp ecosystems, providing an invaluable link between fossil plants, invertebrates, and vertebrate predators.

Collecting and Scientific Importance

Mazon Creek fossils have been studied for more than a century and are internationally prized by collectors, museums, and research institutions. Coprolites such as this are particularly valued because they record behaviour rather than just anatomy. They are classed as trace fossils (ichnofossils), and their study belongs to the field of ichnology. Unlike skeletal fossils, which represent an organism itself, trace fossils reveal what an organism did—how it moved, ate, or interacted with its environment.

This specimen is an excellent example for display, education, or research. It not only adds depth to any fossil collection but also serves as a tangible connection to the living ecosystem of the Carboniferous Period. Fossils from Mazon Creek are increasingly scarce, as the classic collecting localities are no longer actively quarried, making authentic examples such as this ever more desirable.

Your Guarantee of Authenticity

  • 100% genuine fossil specimen from Mazon Creek, Illinois, USA
  • Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity
  • Exact specimen shown in photographs (not a stock image)
  • Scale cube = 1 cm (see photos for full sizing)

Owning a Mazon Creek Fossil Fish Coprolite allows you to hold in your hands a direct piece of palaeontological history, connecting you with the mysterious world of ancient swamps, giant arthropods, early amphibians, and primitive fish that thrived over 300 million years ago. This specimen is a true conversation piece, a collector’s treasure, and a scientifically important trace of life from deep time.

(Actual as seen)

Only 1 left in stock

SKU: FP8588 Category:

Description

This listing is for a genuine Mazon Creek Fossil Fish Coprolite from the world-famous fossil beds of Illinois, USA. Dating back to the Carboniferous Period (approximately 307–309 million years ago), this specimen offers an extraordinary window into the ancient ecosystems that thrived in the tropical swamps and deltas of what is now North America. Each fossil from Mazon Creek represents a remarkable moment frozen in time, preserved within ironstone concretions that formed rapidly around organic material, locking in fine details that would otherwise have been lost.

All of our fossils are carefully sourced, and this piece is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity, guaranteeing it as a 100% genuine specimen. The photograph shown is of the exact fossil you will receive. A 1 cm scale cube is included in the photo to give clear sizing—please see images for precise measurements.

Geological Origin and Formation

The Mazon Creek fossil beds are globally significant for their exceptional preservation. They belong to the Francis Creek Shale, a deposit laid down in the late Pennsylvanian subperiod of the Carboniferous. At this time, vast equatorial coal-forming swamps stretched across the region. The Mazon Creek concretions formed when fine silts and clays buried organic matter in a rapidly changing deltaic environment. Iron minerals in the sediment reacted with decaying material, creating protective concretions that sealed fossils inside.

This unique preservational process means that fossils from Mazon Creek often display extraordinary detail. Unlike typical fossilisation, which replaces organic structures with minerals, the rapid concretion formation preserved both hard and soft tissues in remarkable fidelity. This is why Mazon Creek is considered one of the world’s premier Konservat-Lagerstätten—sites of exceptional preservation.

Fossil Fish Coprolite – A Trace of Ancient Life

This specimen is a coprolite, or fossilised fish excrement. While not part of the animal’s anatomy, coprolites are vital trace fossils that reveal direct evidence of feeding behaviour, diet, and ecological interactions. Within the Mazon Creek deposits, fish coprolites are associated with ancient freshwater and estuarine species that swam through the Carboniferous waterways.

Characteristic features of fish coprolites include their elongated or spiral morphology, reflecting the digestive anatomy of the animal that produced them. In some specimens, inclusions such as undigested bone fragments or scales may be preserved, offering rare insights into predator-prey relationships from over 300 million years ago. The presence of these fossils helps palaeontologists reconstruct the food web of the Carboniferous swamp ecosystems, providing an invaluable link between fossil plants, invertebrates, and vertebrate predators.

Collecting and Scientific Importance

Mazon Creek fossils have been studied for more than a century and are internationally prized by collectors, museums, and research institutions. Coprolites such as this are particularly valued because they record behaviour rather than just anatomy. They are classed as trace fossils (ichnofossils), and their study belongs to the field of ichnology. Unlike skeletal fossils, which represent an organism itself, trace fossils reveal what an organism did—how it moved, ate, or interacted with its environment.

This specimen is an excellent example for display, education, or research. It not only adds depth to any fossil collection but also serves as a tangible connection to the living ecosystem of the Carboniferous Period. Fossils from Mazon Creek are increasingly scarce, as the classic collecting localities are no longer actively quarried, making authentic examples such as this ever more desirable.

Your Guarantee of Authenticity

  • 100% genuine fossil specimen from Mazon Creek, Illinois, USA
  • Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity
  • Exact specimen shown in photographs (not a stock image)
  • Scale cube = 1 cm (see photos for full sizing)

Owning a Mazon Creek Fossil Fish Coprolite allows you to hold in your hands a direct piece of palaeontological history, connecting you with the mysterious world of ancient swamps, giant arthropods, early amphibians, and primitive fish that thrived over 300 million years ago. This specimen is a true conversation piece, a collector’s treasure, and a scientifically important trace of life from deep time.

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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