Rare Mariopteris Plant Fossil Carboniferous Fern Coal Measures UK Houghton Colliery County Durham Specimen Genuine COA Included

Description

Rare Mariopteris Plant Fossil – Carboniferous Coal Forest Fern Specimen

Offered here is a genuine and increasingly scarce Mariopteris plant fossil, preserved from the world-famous Westphalian Coal Measures of the Carboniferous Period. Mariopteris fossils are among the most recognisable and scientifically important plant remains from Britain’s ancient coal swamp forests, representing fern-like vegetation that thrived more than 300 million years ago.

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

Included with the fossil is a Certificate of Authenticity with lifetime guarantee, supplied as a generic authenticity card for permanent documentation.

Geological Age and Formation – Westphalian Coal Measures

This fossil dates to the Westphalian Stage of the late Carboniferous, approximately 310–315 million years old. During this remarkable period, Britain lay close to the equator and experienced warm, humid tropical conditions. Vast swamp forests covered the landscape, forming one of the most extensive plant ecosystems in Earth history.

The Coal Measures were deposited in low-lying delta plains, flood basins, and waterlogged wetland environments. Thick plant growth accumulated rapidly and became buried beneath fine muds and silts in oxygen-poor conditions. These settings prevented decay and allowed delicate plant fossils, including fronds and reproductive structures, to be preserved in extraordinary detail.

Over millions of years, these deposits transformed into the coal seams that later became central to Britain’s industrial development.

Fossil Type and Botanical Significance

Mariopteris is a well-known genus of fossil foliage belonging to the extinct group of seed ferns, or pteridosperms. Although fern-like in appearance, these plants were not true ferns but early seed-producing plants that played a major role in Carboniferous forests.

Mariopteris represents an important evolutionary stage in plant history, bridging the gap between spore-producing ferns and more advanced seed plants. Their fronds contributed significantly to the plant debris that formed Carboniferous coal deposits worldwide.

Because of their distinctive form and association with early seed plant evolution, Mariopteris fossils are highly valued by collectors and palaeobotanical researchers alike.

Morphology and Preservation Features

This specimen preserves the characteristic frond structure typical of Mariopteris, often showing graceful branching and finely divided leaflets. The delicate segmentation of the fronds gives these fossils exceptional visual appeal, making them striking display pieces as well as scientifically meaningful specimens.

Preserved naturally within its original Coal Measures matrix, this fossil captures a genuine fragment of prehistoric rainforest vegetation, offering a direct connection to the lush coal swamp ecosystems of Carboniferous Britain.

Locality – Houghton Colliery, County Durham, UK

Houghton Colliery is one of County Durham’s historic coal mining sites, known among collectors for yielding classic Westphalian plant fossils. Specimens from this locality are increasingly difficult to obtain as traditional coal exposures decline, adding rarity and provenance value to this piece.

Owning a fossil from this region connects directly to Britain’s world-famous Carboniferous coalfield heritage and deep geological history.

Authenticity, Display and Collecting

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

• Serious fossil and palaeobotany collectors
• Carboniferous coal forest enthusiasts
• Educational geology and natural history displays
• Unique prehistoric gifts and conversation pieces

A rare opportunity to acquire an authentic plant fossil from Britain’s ancient tropical coal swamps, preserved for over 300 million years and supplied with a lifetime Certificate of Authenticity.