Description
- Dendrite
- Jurassic Age
- Solnhofen Limestone
- Near Hienheim, Germany
- See the ruler (inches) for size reference
- More Solnhofen Fossils for Sale
The word dendrite comes from the Greek word dendron, meaning tree, and also describes the branched projections of a nerve cell.
A dendrite is a superficial deposit of manganese oxide that has crystallized in a multi-branching tree-like pattern. In paleontology, dendritic mineral crystal forms are often mistaken for fossils.
These pseudofossils form as naturally occurring fissures in the rock are filled by percolating mineral solutions.
They form when water rich in manganese and iron flows along fractures and bedding planes between layers of limestone and other rock types, depositing dendritic crystals as the solution flows through.
