Description
Rare Sapindopsis Fossil Plant Leaves – Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous, Hakel Quarry, Lebanon
This Rare Sapindopsis Fossil Plant Leaves specimen originates from the Hakel Quarry, Mont-Liban, Lebanon, and dates to the Cenomanian Stage of the Upper Cretaceous Period, approximately 98 to 95 million years ago. This beautifully preserved fossil captures the delicate structure of ancient leaves from the extinct genus Sapindopsis, one of the most iconic fossil plants from the Cretaceous of Lebanon. Each specimen offers a glimpse into an ancient tropical world that once bordered the warm, shallow seas of the Tethys Ocean.
Each piece is 100% genuine, left natural as found, and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity confirming its provenance and geological age. The photo shows the actual fossil you will receive, with a 1cm scale cube for reference. Fine preservation in micritic limestone highlights the leaf impressions with remarkable clarity, showcasing venation patterns and overall morphology.
Geological and Stratigraphic Context
The Hakel and Hajula formations of Mont-Liban, Lebanon, are globally renowned fossil Lagerstätten, celebrated for their extraordinary preservation of marine and terrestrial organisms from the Cenomanian Stage (Upper Cretaceous). These deposits formed in calm, shallow lagoonal environments, where minimal oxygen levels at the seabed prevented decay and disturbance, allowing plant and animal material to fossilise in fine-grained limestone.
During the Cenomanian, this region lay along the tropical coasts of the ancient Tethys Ocean, experiencing a warm, humid climate ideal for lush vegetation. Occasional floods and sediment influxes from nearby deltas and coastal plains buried plant material, sealing it within calcareous muds. Over millions of years, these sediments lithified into limestone, perfectly preserving leaves, stems, and even fine venation patterns as natural impressions.
The Hakel Quarry is one of three major Lebanese Cretaceous fossil sites (alongside Hajula and Sahel Alma), each known for its exquisite fossil preservation. While famous for fossil fish, Hakel’s rare plant specimens such as Sapindopsis are highly prized for their exceptional clarity and scientific importance.
Fossil Type and Scientific Classification
- Fossil Type: Plant (Leaf Impression)
- Genus: Sapindopsis
- Family: Platanaceae (Plane Tree Family)
- Order: Proteales
- Geological Stage: Cenomanian
- Period: Upper Cretaceous (~98–95 million years ago)
- Formation: Hakel Limestone Formation
- Locality: Hakel Quarry, Mont-Liban, Lebanon
The genus Sapindopsis is an extinct relative of modern sycamores and plane trees (Platanus spp.), which today are widely distributed across temperate regions. The leaves of Sapindopsis are typically palmately lobed, resembling modern maple or plane tree leaves, with deeply incised lobes and prominent midribs radiating from a central point.
Morphological Features and Preservation
This Sapindopsis fossil exhibits exquisite detail, revealing the fine venation and overall lobed structure typical of this genus. The leaves are usually preserved as impressions or carbonised films within the limestone matrix, capturing the symmetry and vein network in remarkable fidelity.
Under magnification, one can observe delicate secondary veins extending from the central midrib toward the leaf margins, indicating the plant’s adaptation for efficient water distribution in a humid tropical environment. The fossil’s pale to dark brown coloration contrasts beautifully with the creamy limestone, making it a striking and scientifically valuable specimen.
Specimens like this are scientifically important because Sapindopsis represents one of the earliest examples of angiosperm-like (flowering plant) morphology. Its presence in Cenomanian strata demonstrates the evolutionary transition from older gymnosperm-dominated ecosystems to the flowering-plant-rich environments that would dominate the Late Cretaceous and beyond.
Geological and Paleoenvironmental Significance
The Cenomanian Stage marks a time of significant global change — widespread marine transgressions, elevated carbon dioxide levels, and the diversification of both marine and terrestrial life. In this period, the coastlines of the Tethys Ocean hosted a variety of flora, including conifers, ferns, cycads, and early flowering plants like Sapindopsis.
The plant material that became fossilised in Hakel likely originated from nearby vegetated uplands and riverbanks. Periodic floods and sedimentation transported leaves and stems into quiet lagoonal environments, where they settled into oxygen-poor muds. The unique anoxic conditions of these lagoons prevented decomposition, allowing for perfect preservation of even the most fragile plant structures.
Fossil plants such as Sapindopsis from Lebanon provide key evidence for reconstructing the paleoclimate and vegetation of the Late Cretaceous tropics, confirming the presence of mixed coastal forests and early angiosperm species in the region.
Collector and Display Significance
This Rare Sapindopsis Fossil Plant Leaves specimen from Hakel Quarry, Lebanon, is both scientifically valuable and visually captivating. Its exceptional preservation and rarity make it a prized piece for collectors, museums, and educational displays. The fossil’s natural form, untouched and unpolished, maintains the authenticity that appeals to professional paleontologists and natural history enthusiasts alike.
Whether displayed as a decorative geological specimen or included in a fossil plant collection, this piece tells the story of one of Earth’s earliest flowering plant relatives preserved in stone for nearly 100 million years.
Each specimen is 100% genuine, ethically sourced, and includes a Certificate of Authenticity. With its deep scientific value and striking natural beauty, this Sapindopsis plant fossil from the Upper Cretaceous of Lebanon represents a rare opportunity to own an authentic fragment of prehistoric life from one of the world’s most famous fossil localities.
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