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

Description

Rare Pecopteris Plant Fossil – Carboniferous Fern from British Coal Forests

Offered here is a genuine and beautifully preserved Pecopteris plant fossil, originating from the famous Westphalian Coal Measures of the Carboniferous Period. Pecopteris fossils are among the most iconic and collectible remains of prehistoric fern-like plants, capturing the lush vegetation that once covered Britain in vast tropical coal swamp forests over 300 million years ago.

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

Included with the fossil is a Certificate of Authenticity with lifetime guarantee, supplied as a generic authenticity card to accompany the specimen permanently.

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 extraordinary chapter of Earth’s history, Britain was located near the equator and experienced warm, humid tropical conditions. Vast wetlands and swamp forests dominated the landscape, forming one of the richest plant ecosystems ever known.

The Westphalian Coal Measures were deposited in swampy delta plains, flood basins, and low-lying river environments. Dense vegetation accumulated rapidly and became buried beneath fine muds and silts in oxygen-poor conditions. These settings slowed decay and allowed delicate plant fossils, including fronds and stems, to be preserved with remarkable clarity.

Over millions of years, these plant-rich deposits transformed into the coal seams that later powered Britain’s industrial history.

Fossil Type and Botanical Importance

Pecopteris is a well-known genus of fossil fern foliage, widely recognised from Carboniferous coal forests. These plants formed dense undergrowth beneath towering clubmoss trees and seed ferns, contributing significantly to the organic material that became coal.

Pecopteris fronds are highly valued because they provide an excellent record of Carboniferous fern diversity. Their distinctive leaf patterns make them among the most recognisable plant fossils from this period, prized both scientifically and aesthetically.

Such fossils offer important insights into the evolution of early fern groups and the structure of prehistoric rainforest ecosystems long before dinosaurs appeared.

Morphology and Preservation Features

This specimen preserves the classic feather-like frond structure typical of Pecopteris, with finely divided leaflets arranged in an elegant, symmetrical pattern. The fossil has been naturally preserved within its original Coal Measures matrix, often producing striking contrast between the plant impression and surrounding sedimentary rock.

The delicate detail captured in these fronds makes Pecopteris fossils especially attractive for collectors and display, while also offering a direct window into the vegetation of Carboniferous swamp forests.

Locality – Houghton Colliery, County Durham, UK

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

Owning a piece from this region connects directly with Britain’s world-famous Carboniferous coalfield heritage and deep geological past.

Authenticity, Display and Collecting

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