fossil
Siltstone with plant fossil impression
Sedimentary rock with Archaeopteris or Calamites flora impression
Hardness: 3-5 on Mohs scale; Color: Grayish-brown to olive-tan; Luster: Dull, earthy; Texture: Fine-grained with visible linear ridges/impressions.
- Hardness
- 3-5 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Grayish-brown to olive-tan
- Luster
- Dull, earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3-5 on Mohs scale; Color: Grayish-brown to olive-tan; Luster: Dull, earthy; Texture: Fine-grained with visible linear ridges/impressions.
Formation & geological history
Formed in low-energy aquatic environments such as river floodplains, deltas, or lakes during the Paleozoic era (Carboniferous to Devonian periods, ~300-380 million years ago) where plant material was buried in fine sediment.
Uses & applications
Educational display, paleontological research, and private fossil collection.
Geological facts
Fossil impressions like this preserve the texture and form of ancient tree bark, stems, or fronds without preserving the original organic material, which dissolved over millions of years.
Field identification & locations
Identified by parallel grooved or ridged pattern against a fine-grained sedimentary matrix. Commonly found in coal-bearing shale and siltstone formations across Eastern North America and Europe.
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