Pristine Cottonwood Plant Fossil Leaf from Nevada

Description: Central Nevada has a host of Miocene fossil leaf sites. The leaves from this one are preserved in paper shales and exhibit the best flora preservation I have ever encountered. Some of these shales are incredibly fragile, nearly as thin as a sheet of paper. This shale plate is not that thin, or, fragile; however, I encourage you to not handle the specimen.

This cottonwood leaf is just about perfectly preserved. It is well framed on the shale plate, with good contrast and excellent presence. The plate was cracked and repaired.

The state once had a much wetter and more temperate climate back in the Miocene. There were many more lakes in what is now the driest state in the USA. The Sierra uplift dramatically changed the climate and rainfall in the state.

The specimen will be shipped in an attractive 6 x 8” glass covered Riker mount.