Australian Museum researchers uncover perfectly preserved Miocene fossils in iron-rich sediment
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · Apr 26
Australian Museum researchers uncover perfectly preserved Miocene fossils in iron-rich sediment
7 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · Apr 26
The fossils, dating from 11 to 16 million years ago, were discovered at McGraths Flat in New South Wales, Australia, beneath farmland now dry but once a thriving rainforest.
Soft tissues of plants, insects, spiders, fish, and feathers are preserved in extraordinary cellular detail by microscopic iron particles, challenging previous assumptions about fossilization in iron-rich environments.
This discovery offers new methods for identifying exceptional fossil sites globally and provides rare insights into ancient terrestrial ecosystems, with the study published in Gondwana Research and acknowledging the Wiradjuri Nation as traditional custodians.
Have paleontologists been overlooking a global treasure trove of iron-preserved fossils?
What lost world of spiders and insects has been revealed beneath an Australian farm?
How does this rust fossil discovery compare to finding soft tissue in T-rex bones?
Can this unique iron preservation also trap ancient DNA or proteins for study?
What does this lost rainforest reveal about Australia's dramatic climate shifts?
Can AI predict where the world’s next great fossil sites will be found?