Rare Sigillariostrobus Plant Fossil Carboniferous Cone Coal Measures UK Houghton Colliery County Durham Specimen Genuine COA Included

Description

Rare Sigillariostrobus Plant Fossil – Carboniferous Cone from UK Coal Forests

Offered here is a genuine and highly collectible Sigillariostrobus plant fossil, a rare fossil cone preserved from the famous Westphalian Coal Measures of the Carboniferous Period. Fossil cones of this type are among the most desirable plant remains from the coal forest deposits, as reproductive structures are far less commonly preserved than leaves or stems.

This specimen comes from Houghton Colliery, Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham, England, one of the classic historic British localities for Carboniferous plant fossils. The fossil is a carefully chosen piece, selected for its rarity, preservation, and display quality. The photographs show the exact specimen you will receive, and full sizing details can be seen clearly in the images provided.

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

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 was dominated by vast tropical wetlands. These landscapes supported dense coal swamp forests that ultimately produced the coal seams of northern England.

The Coal Measures are sedimentary deposits formed in swampy delta plains, flood basins, and low-lying river environments. Thick accumulations of vegetation were rapidly buried beneath fine silts and muds in oxygen-poor conditions, preventing decay and allowing exceptional fossil preservation.

It is within these deposits that rare reproductive fossils such as Sigillariostrobus cones are occasionally found, offering a valuable insight into the life cycles of ancient coal forest plants.

Fossil Type and Botanical Significance

Sigillariostrobus is the fossil reproductive cone associated with the giant lycopsid trees, most closely linked with the genus Sigillaria, one of the dominant tree groups of the Carboniferous coal forests. These enormous “scale trees” could reach heights exceeding 30 metres and formed the canopy of prehistoric swamp ecosystems.

Unlike modern flowering plants, Sigillaria belonged to the lycophytes, an ancient lineage of spore-producing vascular plants distantly related to today’s clubmosses. Sigillariostrobus cones produced spores that dispersed through the humid swamp air, ensuring the continuation of these vast forests.

Because cones represent specialised reproductive organs, they are significantly rarer than foliage fossils, making Sigillariostrobus specimens highly sought after by collectors and palaeobotany enthusiasts.

Morphology and Preservation Features

This specimen displays the compact cone form characteristic of Sigillariostrobus, often showing distinctive external patterning where spore-bearing scales were once attached. Preserved naturally within its original Coal Measures matrix, it provides both scientific interest and striking visual appeal.

Such fossils are important for understanding Carboniferous plant reproduction and the ecological complexity of the coal swamp forests, which played a major role in shaping Earth’s long-term carbon cycle.

Locality – Houghton Colliery, County Durham, UK

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

Owning a fossil from this region connects directly to Britain’s ancient coal forest heritage and its globally significant geological history.

Authenticity, Display and Collecting

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

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

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