piranha Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Here is an unusual leaf fossil that I just finished prepping and repairing. A friend gave me a piece of matrix with a few leaf remnants and I was able to extract this large leaf after the matrix had shattered into many pieces. This was one of the few occasions where I had to reach a little deeper for the prep technique of surface cracks filled with an amalgam of matrix powder and glue. I'm quite pleased with the result as this vibrant specimen was definitely worth rescuing from oblivion. Now the difficult task of an ID is presenting obstacles as my friend does not recall the formation it was collected from. It could be Eocene-Oligocene-Miocene and the features of margin and venation are pulling me in different directions. Tentatively it reminds me most of Ostrya oregoniana but just as easily it might be something closer to another Betula or Ulmus species. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Nice salvage job, unfortunately I know nothing about plants and have only ever found a few calamites at Joggins Nova Scotia. Don't find leaves up here in Southern Ontario Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Good job, Scott.. Don't you hate it when people don't give you the loc. data?? (I know how easy it is to forget - I've found things back in the day and forgotten where, now kicking myself) Your scanned figure certainly looks a lot like the Betula I have from McAbee, but I can see why you're having trouble with your leaf's ID! Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullsnake Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Great prep job Scott!!! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astron Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Impressive result, Scott, on an obviously very difficult specimen The wonderful leaf was worth your efforts Good luck with the id Astrinos P. Damianakis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted December 12, 2011 Author Share Posted December 12, 2011 Malcolm, Eric, Steve, Astrinos.. Thanks! I agree and glad to save it from the scrap-heap! Hopefully an ID is forthcoming shortly.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted December 12, 2011 Author Share Posted December 12, 2011 Mystery solved... here is the ID: This looks like Acer ashwilli, and the matrix looks like Fossil school (Oligocene, John Day Formation). Veins are not nearly parallel enough for Betulaceae. RE: Systematics, Phylogeny, and Distribution of Acer (maples) in the Cenozoic of Western North America Journal of the Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University. Series 4, Geology and mineralogy 22(1), 1-246, 1987-02 Jack A. Wolfe and Toshimasa Tanai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdevey Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 Hi Scott, Wheeler high school, is what I was thinking. But Acer , I didn't see that......... But in hind sight, I can see it now. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 That makes sense - I should have known maple when I saw it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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