Natural History
Natural History
Property from an Important American Collection
An Uncommonly Large Fossil Palm Frond
Lot Closed
December 3, 07:29 PM GMT
Estimate
30,000 - 45,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
An Uncommonly Large Fossil Palm Frond
Sabalites sp.
Early Eocene (approx. 50 million years ago)
Green River Formation, Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States
This framed natural fossil mural measures 96 by 66½ by 2½ inches (244.2 x 168.6 x 6.4 cm). 500 pounds (227 kg).
This Sabalites specimen includes the rare appearance of fossilized wood towards the top of the leaves. As is common for specimens of this size, minimal restoration was needed at the tips of the leaves and bottom portion of the stem.
50 million years ago, Wyoming's Green River Formation was comprised of 25,000 square miles (40,000 km) of interconnected subtropical lakes. Today the area is known as the "Fossil Lake", boasting some of the most abundant and well-preserved freshwater fossils anywhere in the world.
The majority of these specimens are fauna, not flora, with palms being exceptionally scarce as a result of thin leaves that are highly susceptible to decomposition prior to fossilization. Because of this, palms represent some of the largest and most prized leaves in the geologic record, with the present specimen serving as an exceptional example.
PROVENANCE:
From a private Florida collection