Rare Ancient Tree Leaves Scientists ‘Gobsmacked’ in Canada
The discovery of rare ancient tree leaves in Canada has left scientists "gobsmacked". These well-preserved plant fossils, found in southeastern Canada, are unlike anything researchers have ever seen before. The fossils provide valuable insights into the evolution and growth of trees during the Carboniferous period.
The story begins with an earthquake that occurred 350 million years ago, toppling the trees and burying them in a mud bath. The trunks and leaves of these trees were perfectly preserved in the sediments at the bottom of a lake. Geologists stumbled upon the first fossilized tree while excavating a quarry in New Brunswick in 2017. Since then, four more near-identical specimens have been unearthed.
The researchers were amazed by the architecture of these ancient trees. Unlike...