Discovery of plant cuticles in phyllite, late Pennsylvanian Southern Anthracite Field, eastern Pennsylvania, USA: a new research resource?

We report a small number of well preserved Late Pennsylvanian plant fossils physically associated with an 8-cm-long assumed anthracitic axis on one of the larger rock slabs (phyllite) described by Leo Lesquereux from the Southern Anthracite Field, USA. The fragmentary fossils, not larger than 1.6 mm, resemble microscopically 'fossilized-cuticles'. Additionally, observed are 10-28 mu m diametric bodies reminiscent of spores. Effectively demonstrated is the co-occurrence of two preservation modes of plant material: (1) as assumed anthracitic axis; and (2), as 'fossilized-cuticle' in a metamorphic environment. An organometallic process is hypothesized for stabilizing the preservation states with novel research potential for plant-fossil preservation in an anthracitic terrain.

Automated summary

This study reports well-preserved Late Pennsylvanian plant fossils from the Southern Anthracite Field in the USA. The fossils are physically associated with an assumed anthracitic axis and demonstrate two preservation modes of plant material in a metamorphic environment. The hypothesis of an organometallic process provides potential for novel research in plant-fossil preservation in anthracitic terrain.