Description
Rhynie Chert
- Thick Cut Specimen
- Early Devonian Age
- Rhynie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
- Specimen measures 1.12″ wide x .35″ thick and comes in the 3.25″ x 4.25″ Riker Display with Label as Shown
- MORE Miscellaneous Fossils
The Rhynie Chert of Aberdeenshire, Scotland is a globally important fossil site that preserves a lower Devonian terrestrial flora and fauna. The plants and also the animals existed around a volcanic hot spring and represent a unique fauna. As a result of periodic inundation by the mineral rich waters of the hot springs the plants and animals were preserved in silica rich chert. At the same time preservation by mineral replacement was so rapid and complete that all specimens are preserved in 3D right down to the cellular level. Arthropods, primitive spiders, plants, fungi, spores and algae are all preserved.
By Peter coxhead | Surface view of a polished piece of Rhynie chert showing many corms/tubers of Horneophyton. Marked examples: centre – single corm with rhizoids; left – linked corms with rhizoids.
