Two examples of local fossil plant fauna, both specimens were found in Guffy Run.

Calamites

Catalog Number: CG-0085

Calamites is common in the shale below the Brush Creek Limestone. Typically a wide, long and flat fossil, it’s difficult to find large specimens locally in-tact. This one was face up in the stream bed with a high-contrast mud coloring on top. The mud color helps to highlight the structure of the fossilized plant.

The piece of shale is a bit fragile, and the specimen below is not currently glued together. I used a diamond wheel on a grinder to cut it from a larger rock, to avoid losing the complete specimen.

Calamites
Specimen CG-0085 – Calamites

Pecopteris

Catalog Number: CG-0063

Pecopteris is likely the most common local fern. Bits and pieces of these are common, and larger stems are found often. They usually come up black on black to gray colored shale, so this piece with what looks like an iron oxide coating really stands out. Luckily the shale is very compact and does not appear to be in danger of splitting apart.

Pecopteris
Specimen CG-0063 – Pecopteris