Mazon Creek Fossil Wood Carboniferous Illinois USA with Certificate of Authenticity

Description

This listing is for an authentic Mazon Creek Fossil Wood specimen from the world-renowned fossil beds of Illinois, USA. Dating back to the Carboniferous Period, approximately 307–309 million years ago, this fossil represents the preserved remains of ancient swamp forest vegetation that once dominated the equatorial regions of the supercontinent Pangaea. Fossil wood specimens from this site capture remarkable details of the structure of Carboniferous trees and woody plants, offering a direct connection to one of the most important geological intervals in Earth’s history.

All of our fossils are 100% genuine and supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity. The photographs display the exact specimen you will receive. A 1 cm scale cube is included for accurate reference; please see the images for full sizing details.

Geological Context and Preservation

The fossil comes from the Francis Creek Shale, a deposit laid down during the Pennsylvanian Subperiod of the Carboniferous. At that time, Illinois lay near the equator, covered by extensive lowland swamp forests. These forests were dominated by lycopsids, tree ferns, and early gymnosperms, which contributed to the formation of vast coal seams that remain economically significant to this day.

The Mazon Creek area is world-famous because of its unique preservational process. Plant remains were quickly buried in fine-grained deltaic sediments, often within estuarine environments. As the organic matter decayed, iron minerals in the sediment precipitated around it, forming ironstone concretions. These concretions sealed the plant tissues from decay and preserved fine structural details. This rare form of preservation is why Mazon Creek is classified as a Konservat-Lagerstätte—a deposit of exceptional fossil quality.

Fossil Wood – Ancient Swamp Forests

Fossil wood specimens such as this are traces of the massive swamp forests that dominated the Carboniferous landscape. The trees of this period, including lycopsids like Lepidodendron, giant horsetails such as Calamites, and early gymnosperms, produced dense stands of vegetation that towered over swampy floodplains. These forests were among the first ecosystems dominated by large vascular plants with true woody stems, providing habitats for a rich diversity of invertebrates, amphibians, and early reptiles.

The specimen displays features typical of fossilised plant material, including areas of preserved structure that hint at growth patterns and tissue organisation. Fossil wood provides valuable information about the anatomy of ancient plants, their methods of growth, and their adaptation to swampy, waterlogged environments. These plants played a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, sequestering vast amounts of carbon and helping to elevate atmospheric oxygen to some of the highest levels in Earth’s history.

Scientific and Collector Value

The Mazon Creek Fossil Beds have been extensively studied by palaeontologists for more than a century. Fossil wood specimens are particularly prized because they represent the framework of the Carboniferous forests—the trunks and stems that supported towering plants and helped shape Earth’s ecological and atmospheric history. These specimens serve both as scientific material for study and as striking display pieces for collectors.

As the original fossil collecting sites are no longer actively quarried, authentic Mazon Creek fossils are becoming increasingly scarce. This makes every genuine specimen not only a captivating piece of natural history but also a valuable addition to any fossil collection.

Your Guarantee of Authenticity

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

This Mazon Creek Fossil Wood is a remarkable relic of Earth’s Carboniferous forests, preserved for over 300 million years. It offers collectors, educators, and enthusiasts a unique opportunity to own a genuine piece of palaeobotanical history from one of the most famous fossil localities in the world.