Mississippian Bear Gulch Algal Frond Heterokont Fossil

Description: The Bear Gulch Limestone is a deposit of some 70 square km in extent and 30 m in depth that has been a source of one of the most diverse assemblages of fossil fish with some 110 species having been described over the past 30 years. Most were new to science, and provided a unique view of the marine environment of Mississippian times. Fine preservation of both fish and invertebrates is a hallmark of these deposits, presumably due to an anoxic depositional environment. This plate shows a frond of an unusual alga which I have been unable to identify so far. It differs from the bladelike strands I have seen in the past (see my other offerings). To my knowledge, no specimen has previously been offered. This is the ONLY one I have ever seen.