Fossil is evidence of pre-existing life which has been preserved in different kind of rocks on earth. The definition of a fossil includes not only the remains of organisms, but tracks, footprints, imprints, etc. It can be difficult to differentiate between a fossil, and something that is just a dead plant or animal. In this lab you will see the different types of preservation that you will come across during this course.
![Neuropteris (leaf) Impression](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3697-300x200.jpg)
Neuropteris (leaf)
Preservation: Impression
![Angiosperm leaf. Impression](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3641-300x200.jpg)
L1-30: Angiosperm leaf.
Preservation: Impression
![Coal a compression of many plant fossils.](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3629-300x200.jpg)
Coal a compression of many plant fossils.
![Spore coal Age: Pennsylvanian from Michigan. The coal is composed of masses of megaspores.](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3633-300x200.jpg)
L1-26: Spore coal
Age: Pennsylvanian from Michigan. The coal is composed of masses of megaspores.
![Paper coal. Age: Pennsylvanian from Indiana.](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3632-300x200.jpg)
L1-25: Paper coal. Age: Pennsylvanian from Indiana.
![Lignite coal.](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3630-300x200.jpg)
L1-24: Lignite coal.
![Glyptostrobus on vocanic ash, from Smoky Tower, AB. Age: Paleocene. Paskapoo Formation. Compression.](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/03/IMG_3613L.-300x200.jpg)
L1-1: Glyptostrobus on vocanic ash, from Smoky Tower, AB.
Age: Paleocene. Paskapoo Formation. Compression.
![Vegetative Azolla on volcanic ash. Age: Eocene. From Princeton, BC. Compression.](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3615-300x200.jpg)
L1-5: Vegetative Azolla on volcanic ash.
Age: Eocene. From Princeton, BC.
Compression.
![Leaf of Betula and Zelkova. From Smithers, BC. Age: Eocene. Compression on volcanic ash.](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3618-300x200.jpg)
L1-6: Leaf of Betula and Zelkova. From Smithers, BC. Age: Eocene. Compression on volcanic ash.
![Peels of cuticle](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3624-300x200.jpg)
Peels of cuticle
![Conifer wood, petrified. Age: Cretaceous from Alberta.](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3662-300x200.jpg)
Conifer wood, petrified. Age: Cretaceous from Alberta.
![Silicified petrification . "Opalized"](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3667-300x200.jpg)
L1-60: Silicified petrification .
“Opalized”
![?](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3656-300x200.jpg)
L1-50: Permineralized root called Stigmaria.
![Sigillaria approximata. Peel](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3692-300x200.jpg)
L1-82: Sigillaria approximata.
Peel
![Wood - unaltered remains](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3669-300x200.jpg)
Wood – unaltered remains
![Pinus cones from the Miocene, N. Yukon. Unaltered remains.](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3678-300x200.jpg)
L1-71: Pinus cones from the Miocene, N. Yukon.
Unaltered remains.
![Pinus cone and cone scales unaltered remains. Miocen, N. Yukon.](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3676-300x200.jpg)
L1-70: Part of a Pinus cone and cone scales
unaltered remains.
Miocen, N. Yukon.
![Cast of Cercidiphyllum fruits. Age: Paleocene. Burbank, Alberta.](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3651-300x200.jpg)
L1-39: Cast of Cercidiphyllum fruits. Age: Paleocene.
Burbank, Alberta.
![Trigonocarpus - seed cast Age: Paleocene, Paskapoo Fm. Burbank, Alberta.](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3649-300x200.jpg)
L1-38: Trigonocarpus – seed cast
Age: Paleocene, Paskapoo Fm.
Burbank, Alberta.
![Lepidodendron - leaf scars. Age: Pennsylvanian from Hardinsbury, Illinois. This kind of preservation is called "Mold".](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3647-300x200.jpg)
L1-37: Lepidodendron – leaf scars.
Age: Pennsylvanian from Hardinsbury, Illinois. This kind of preservation is called a “Mold”.
![Stigmaria is an underground root of Lepidodendrales. (preservation type: cast)](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3690-300x200.jpg)
Stigmaria is an underground rootlike structure of Lepidodendrales, showing pattern of rootlet scars. (Preservation type: cast)
![Amber from the Oligocene-Miocene. Chiapas - Mexico.](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3681-300x200.jpg)
L1-75: Amber from the Oligocene-Miocene. Chiapas – Mexico.
![Resin from Douglas Fir (extant).](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3680-300x200.jpg)
L1-74: Resin from Douglas Fir (extant).
![Stromatolite, from Wyoming. Example of a chemical fossil](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3687-300x200.jpg)
L1-78: Stromatolite, from Wyoming. Example of a chemical fossil
![Stromatolite from Tindle Limestone, Manitoba, Ordovician. Chemical fossil](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3685-300x200.jpg)
L1-77: Stromatolite from Tindle Limestone, Manitoba, Ordovician. Chemical fossil
![vbvvbvb](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3689-300x201.jpg)
L1-80: Oolitic limestones
![Dendrites of manganese oxid, from Genesee, AB.](https://grad.biology.ualberta.ca/paleobotany/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/11/IMG_3688-300x200.jpg)
L1-79: Dendrites of manganese oxid, from Genesee, AB. Age Eocene. A false fossil.