Description

Fruit
Early Eocene
Green River Fm.- Parachute Creek Mbr.
Douglas Pass, Colorado, USA

Large 31mm fruit on 69mm slab.

Fossil fruit specimens are generally difficult to identify depending on the type of preservation but scientists have been working on a way to accomplish that using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which captures extremely high-resolution images of tiny objects and apparently smooth surfaces.  By comparing the surfaces of fossil and modern fruits with that technology it’s possible precise identifications can be made based on a 2008 study done in Europe (Dmanisi site, Georgia).

Most fruit specimens from the Green River Formation are around 10-15mm but this one twice that. Unusual piece.