Araucaria - Fossil Cones from Argentina

A series of volcanic eruptions buried the Cerro Cuadrado forest approximately 160 million years ago at a time when the Araucaria mirabilis conifer’s cones were reaching maturity.

Araucaria mirabilis is an extinct species of conifer from the Middle Jurassic, Cerro Cuadrado Petrified Forest, Patagonia, Argentina

Specimens are often cut and polished to reveal the true beauty of the internal structure of the cone in minute detail.

These cones were acquired at the Tucson, Mineral, Gem and Fossil show in the 1990’s from Ulrich Dernbach. After 2003 the Argentine government prevented any further export of the cones. As a result, these cones are now very sought after and will only become more rare.

These beautiful cones have become silicified by the process of mineralization. The water that percolated through the volcanic ash was absorbed into the cones who take on the color associated with the minerals that were prevalent in the ash.

Araucaria mirabilis

Order / Family: Pinales / Araucariaceae
Age: Middle Jurassic
Location: Patagonia, Argentina
Range: Callovian Stage

Alan Simpson

I have remained a keen amateur fossil enthusiast my whole life. I first experienced the joy of finding fossils as a child while growing up in England, where my weekends were spent hunting the Cretaceous and Jurassic cliffs and beaches along the south coast. I never stopped loving fossils and learning about them. I hope this blog will inspire a new generation of young enthusiasts as well as being of interest to existing collectors.

https://www.fossilsoup.com
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