A fossil leaf print is a biological impression of ancient foliage preserved in fine-grained sedimentary rock. It is typically found in shale or siltstone and gives a clear, two-dimensional record of the leaf's venation and overall shape. Look for specimens with sharp, crisp margins where the leaf detaches cleanly from the surrounding matrix.
Is this fossil leaf print?
4-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch fossil leaf print with a known reference. Fossil Leaf Print sits at Mohs 2-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Fossil Leaf Print typically shows a dull luster.
- 3Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, tan, black, gray.
- 4Look at form & habitTypical habit: imprint.
Often found alongside fossil leaf print
Minerals reported to co-occur with fossil leaf print. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Mohs hardness
- 2-4
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal habit
- Imprint
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research, Decorative
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Shale and Siltstone
Where rockhounds find fossil leaf print
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Green River Formation, USA
- Florissant Fossil Beds, USA
- Messel Pit, Germany
- Carboniferous coal measures, UK
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary shale and siltstone country, the host setting where fossil leaf print typically forms. If you start seeing clay minerals, siltstone, shale in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a imprint habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Texas. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify fossil leaf print?+
Where is fossil leaf print found?+
Can I find fossil leaf print in the United States?+
What minerals are found with fossil leaf print?+
What kind of rock does fossil leaf print form in?+
What is fossil leaf print used for?+
Find fossil leaf print on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
