DD Fossils
The Rhynie Chert
The Rhynie Chert of Aberdeenshire, Scotland is a globally important fossil site that preserves a lower Devonian terrestrial flora and fauna. The plants and animals existed around a volcanic hot spring (similar to that shown below) and represent a unique fauna. Periodic inundation by the mineral rich waters of the hot springs preserved the plants and animals in silica rich chert. Preservation by mineral replacement was so rapid and complete that all specimens are preserved in 3D right down to the cellular level. Arthropods, primitive spiders, plants, fungi, spores and algae are all preserved.
The best way to view the chert specimens is via thin section, and that is what is offered on this page. In thin section the exquisite details of the plants can be viewed. Non plant and fungi fossils are rare, but are periodically found. Each thin section is mounted on a 1x3 inch slide (although older stock may be on 1x2 inch slides, but few of these remain). We do not put coverslips on the thin sections in case you want to rework them. Epoxy is used to glue the specimen to the slide. Please note that these slides are not professionally prepared to a specific thickness but are simply worked by hand until we think they are thin enough. All images are of actual specimens so you can see the clarity of the slides.
A microscope is essential to properly view these slides. Magnification of 10 to 30X is usually sufficient, but to see the smallest spores and cysts in detail we would recommend zomm magnification up to about 100x. Careful viewing of every part of the slides at numerous magnifications is encouraged as you never know what might be hiding.
Rhynie Chert Thin Section collection
- This collection of 5 slides is a good introduction to the Rhynie Chert.
- Includes good quality, smaller slides that preserve a variety of different fossil types.
- These are not our best quality slides, but are produced to the same level of completeness. They are just smaller pieces of matrix and so preserve fewer fossils. However, the minute details are still visible.
- Comes with a set of ID cards of the most common fossil types you will encounter such as Aglaophyton, Palaeomyces and Retusotriletes.
- £
- In stock
Aglaophyton major axis/rhizome cross section
- Each of these slides preserves an axis or rhizome of Aglaophyton in cross section.
- As with all these thin section slides there are almost invariably other fossils preserved in the matrix.
- Most exhibit the presence of the fungus Glomites rhyniensis (which form the dark ring)
- £
- In stock
Aglaophyton major with Retusotriletes spores
- These thin sections, in addition to axes or rhizoids of Aglaophyton, also contain the tiny black spores of this plant (known as Retusotriletes).
- The spores occur scattered in the thin section and need a magnification of at least 40x to view them (to see finer details you will need at least double that).
- £
- In stock
Aglaophyton major with Palaeomyces fungal cysts
- These thin sections, in addition to axes or rhizoids of Aglaophyton, also contain small fungal cysts belonging to the genus Palaeomyces.
- Two species of Palaeomyces are present in the Rhynie Chert: the larger P. gordoni, and P. asteroxyli that is about one third the size.
- The spores often occur within the axes of Aglaophyton and need a magnification of at least 30x to view them properly (to see finer details you will need at double that).
- £
- In stock
Rhynie Chert Exhibition/Display Prints
- This collection consists of a number of prints suitable for use in a small wall or cabinet display of fossils of the Rhynie Chert or other Palaeontological exhibit.
- The prints are A4 in size (approximately the same as Letter size in the USA) and are professionally printed in colour.
- The collection focuses on Aglaophyton major and how it lived and interacted with the environment and fauna of the Rhynie hot springs. Preservation, life habits, reproduction, predation and more are all featured in an easy to understand way while presenting a great deal of information. Price listed below is an estimate.
- £
- Coming soon
