Fossil Fern
Rare Preservation
We are the only original source for this exceedingly rare material. Nearly every piece in museums and private collections across the globe was excavated by us from our site in central Pennsylvania. It is the one and only location where these incredible fossils are found. These white fossil ferns on black shale are completely natural! The unique preservation results from a rare mineral replacement of the plant tissue. They are found in only one small location of only a few hundred square yards in an old anthracite coal mine. We closed and buried the site in the late 1990s. The fossils shown here are from the last shipment of specimens sent to the lab from the site 30 years ago!
How They Formed
About 300 million years ago the equator cut through the eastern part of North America resulting in tropical environments where early land plants and animals thrived. In the area that is now central Pennsylvania, ferns comprised the bulk of the primitive forest, eventually piling up in thick layers that were then compacted into immense deposits of coal. As the leaves were buried deep the plant tissue dissolved away and was replaced by pyrite, and then by pyrophyllite. After that, the area was uplifted and erosion carved away the overlaying sediments. In the 1950s and 60s strip mining exposed the fossil layer by removing the coal seam directly above it. We located the site in the early 1970s and excavated fossils there for over 20 years.
Learn More
To get a feel for our digging at this site, see the story “St Clair” in Jon’s Log section of this website.
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St Clair Flora – rare preservation (F2)
Notes specific to this specimen: Two sided specimen. An attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
NAME: Alethopteris & OTHERS
AGE: Carboniferous Period – 305 million years
UNIT: Llewellyn Formation
SITE: Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
DATE: 1996Size: 9″ x 5″ x 1/2″
Documentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin. In addition, an attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
$620.00 -
St Clair Flora – rare preservation (F5)
Notes specific to this specimen: Large, two sided specimen with multiple layers evident. Front and back are equally compelling with a dense accumulation of ferns. Nice scattering of ferns on both sides, with both positive and negatives on each. Great specimen from this classic site.
NAME: Alethopteris
AGE: Carboniferous Period – 305 million years
UNIT: Llewellyn Formation
SITE: Schuylkill County, PennsylvaniaSize: 11″ x 11″ x 1″
Documentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin. In addition, an attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
$750.00 -
St Clair Flora – rare preservation (F6)
Notes specific to this specimen: Two sided specimen – front and back are equally compelling with a dense accumulation of ferns. An attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
NAME: Alethopteris
AGE: Carboniferous Period – 305 million years
UNIT: Llewellyn Formation
SITE: Schuylkill County, PennsylvaniaSize: 18″ x 14″ x 1″
Documentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin. In addition, an attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
$1,450.00St Clair Flora – rare preservation (F6)
$1,450.00 -
St Clair Flora – rare preservation (F9)
Notes specific to this specimen: Two sided specimen – front and back are equally compelling with a dense accumulation of ferns. Back side is colored yellow by iron intrusion making it a nice contrast to the classic white ferns on the front. There are multiple layers showing around the edges.
NAME: Alethopteris
AGE: Carboniferous Period – 305 million years
UNIT: Llewellyn Formation
SITE: Schuylkill County, PennsylvaniaSize: 11″ x 6″ x 1″
Documentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin. In addition, an attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
$750.00