Joggins Rock Textures 3 – More or less vertically aligned fossil stem of the plant Calamites (related to modern day horsetails) cutting through horizontally aligned Carboniferous strata at Joggins Fossil Cliffs on the Nova Scotia shore of the Bay of Fundy in eastern Canada. [Click to enlarge the image].
4 Replies to “Joggins Rock Textures 3”
Amazingly distinct Jessica. Its even possible to see the similarity to horsetails.
The Carboniferous Calamites were much bigger than modern horsetails, reaching to about 3 metres in height. At other locations on this site, the Calamites are grouped together in groves, as they would have been growing at the time that sediments accumulated around them, in successive flood events, until eventually the plant remains were completely buried prior to the fossilisation process. These Calamites fossils show both the mould or cavity left by the decaying organic matter and the cast made by in-filling sediments in the shape of the original stem. I’ll post some pictures of the grouped fossil stems later.
Fascinating process Jessica. I imagine those huge plants with similarly oversized dragonflies darting among them – I think one my picture books as a child left a vivid impression!
In the visitor centre at Joggins Fossil Cliffs, they have conjured up the atmosphere of what it was like in that past environment when the rocks and fossils of the cliffs and beach were formed, with replica “tree” stumps of giant ferns and great model dragonflies overhead as a setting for all the specimens and explanations.
Jessica's Nature Blog 
Amazingly distinct Jessica. Its even possible to see the similarity to horsetails.
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The Carboniferous Calamites were much bigger than modern horsetails, reaching to about 3 metres in height. At other locations on this site, the Calamites are grouped together in groves, as they would have been growing at the time that sediments accumulated around them, in successive flood events, until eventually the plant remains were completely buried prior to the fossilisation process. These Calamites fossils show both the mould or cavity left by the decaying organic matter and the cast made by in-filling sediments in the shape of the original stem. I’ll post some pictures of the grouped fossil stems later.
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Fascinating process Jessica. I imagine those huge plants with similarly oversized dragonflies darting among them – I think one my picture books as a child left a vivid impression!
LikeLike
In the visitor centre at Joggins Fossil Cliffs, they have conjured up the atmosphere of what it was like in that past environment when the rocks and fossils of the cliffs and beach were formed, with replica “tree” stumps of giant ferns and great model dragonflies overhead as a setting for all the specimens and explanations.
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