The majority of amber which has been discovered and studied
originates in the Cenzoic Era. The earlier Mesozoic which
consists of the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic has produced
amber but in smaller and scarcer quantities due to its much older
age, it is however well researched and detailed.
One of the problems associated with Mesozoic amber is the
level of degradation it undergoes. Ancient fossil resin can be
badly affected by oxidisation, erosion, and excessive heat and
pressure. Amber from this Era when it is found is usually in
small pieces no bigger than a few centimetres.
Fungal mycelium has been discovered and photographed in amber
from the Triassic, the oldest period in the Mesozoic Era. It is
remarkable just for its age. A picture of a specimen can be seen
in George O. Poinar’s book ‘Life in Amber’.
None fossiliferous amber dating back from the earlier era of
the Carboniferous has been discovered and documented. This
ancient resin has been mainly found in coal mines and workings.
In all of these cases the amber consists of tiny pieces, usually
interspersed amongst the coal as small beads or small flattened
sheets usually measured in millimetres.
Because of the destructive affects of time on amber the
discovery of biological inclusions in Carboniferous amber would
be remarkable and its resultant rarity and scientific importance
would be incalculable. Such a discovery would be subject to
rigorous scientific investigation to confirm such reports.
The author in his study of amber came across a little known
paper first published in 1894 by John Smith. The document was
part of "Transactions - Geological Society of Glasgow",
and was entitled: ‘No. XXX. - On the Discovery of Fossil
Microscopic Plants in the Fossil Amber of the Ayrshire
Coal-field’. If such a paper were published today and its
findings confirmed it would be a bombshell in paleontological
amber studies.
The paper details how Smith collected various samples of
Carboniferous Middletonite (Fossil resin found in older coal
formations.) from the Misk pit near Stevenson and the Annandale
Colliery near Kilmarnock both places located in Scotland.
50 samples were prepared and placed on transparent microscopic
slides for investigation, by inference the pieces must have been
rather small. Originally he was hoping to discover insects, he
failed to discover any. What were present according to
Smith’s paper were a whole range of plant and fungal
remains. One of these specimens; a sample of pollen grains in
amber were sent to Professor King of Glasgow who doubted that
such a delicate structure could be preserved over such a long
period of time. Professor King on receipt of the sample
apparently confirmed the identification and noted the remarkable
level of preservation which had been achieved.
As a result of this secondary confirmation of at least one
piece it seems likely that some if not all of Smiths remaining
observations could be correct. What may therefore be remarkable
about this discovery is the range and variety of the types of
inclusions which were detailed by Smith as well as the extreme
age of these samples.
Accompanying the paper was a list describing the plants
discovered in the amber together with a range of drawings which
is reproduced here.
[It is with some regret that the author must report that
the source of these amber fossils no longer exists, but it hoped
that certain spoil heaps might possibly provide some samples of
this ancient amber for fresh research to begin again, we can only
hope].
Fossils in Carboniferous Amber, Ayrshire
Explanation of Plate VII.
1. Sphairanema curta, gen.
et. sp. nov.
2. Sphairanema plana, sp. nov.
3. Sphairanema Miskensis, sp. nov.
4. Sphairanema Ayrshirensis, sp. nov.
5. Sphairanema clavata, sp. nov.
6. Sphairanema tenuis, sp. nov.
7. Sphairanema (?) spinulosa, sp. nov.
8. Sphairanema monilifera, sp. nov.
9. Nemaclada filiformis, sp. nov.
10. Nemaclada alternata, gen. et sp. nov.
11. Nemaclada dichotoma, sp. nov.
12. Nemaclada pulvifera, sp. nov., fruiting?
13. Nemaclada contorta, sp. nov.
14. Nemaclada contorta, fruiting?
15. Nemaclada Beveridgei, sp. nov.
16. Sphairanema filiformis, sp. nov.
17. Peronosporoides Carbonifera sp. nov.
18. Peronosporoides Carbonifera fruiting.
19. Leptonema tenuis, gen at sp. nov. fruiting.
20. Carbonacarpa Annandalensis, gen. at sp. nov.
21. ? Abundant in parts of the amber.
22. ? Abundant in parts of the amber.
23. ? Abundant in parts of the amber.
24. Spores of fungi (?). Abundant in parts of the amber.
26. Part of male flower of a conifer? |
 |
