An important tree fossil discovered at Devon Cove



According to municipal leaders, "groundbreaking" fossil has been found in 

portion of south Devon.

According to the Torbay Council, Dr. Kevin Page discovered the lycopsid 

fossils—trees thought to be roughly 377 million years old—while surveying

 Saltern Cove, which is located close to Paignton and is part of the English 

Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark.

According to the council, huge trees that formerly helped produce coal were 

descended from lycopsids, which resembled palm trees.

The discovery was described as "wonderful find" by Dr. Page, honorary senior

 research fellow at the Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, and president 

of ProGEO [the International Association for the Conservation of Geological Heritage].

An island in the Devonian desert

These fossils are extremely important because they shed light on Torbay's prehistoric

 ecology, including the existence of volcanic islands with trees growing on them, 

according to Dr. Page.

"This may be the earliest documented instance of tree-covered Devonian

desert island."

The fossil may usher in "new chapter" of shifting circumstances and habitats 

at the location, according to Melanie Border, coordinator of Geopark.

"Up until now, our rocks from the Devonian age have solely shown signs of marine 

environment," she continued.

However, the fact that we now have proof of volcanic islands and forests is really 

fascinating.


By George Thorpe

Source  bbc.com

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