Description :

An exceptional, curated estate collection of geological and paleontological specimens, primarily focusing on historic Upper Midwest localities (Michigan and Wisconsin) and classic Midwestern fossil beds. This diverse cabinet lot features a well-balanced mix of Paleozoic marine invertebrates, Carboniferous flora, crystallized mineral clusters, and rare native copper district ores, complete with several invaluable vintage handwritten provenance labels.

Paleontological Highlights (Fossils):

• Mazon Creek Ironstone Fern Concretions (2): Two classic Pennsylvanian-period split nodules (Pecopteris or Alethopteris) showing highly detailed positive and negative carbonaceous frond impressions from the famous Illinois lagerstätte
• Large Lepidodendron / Fossil Bark Slab: A substantial, heavily textured black carbonaceous shale matrix displaying the characteristic diamond-patterned leaf scars of a prehistoric scale tree.
• Colonial Fossil Corals & Crinoid Media: Includes a highly defined Favosites type branching coral specimen, an exceptionally thick, hollow-centered crinoid stem columnal ("St. Cuthbert’s bead"), and a partial fossilized gastropod/mollusk internal whorl.

Mineralogical & Geological Specimens:

• "Needle Ore" Hematite (Hurley, WIS): A choice, vertically striated lustrous maroon-red fibrous crystal cluster. Accompanied by its original handwritten collector's card reading: "Hematite, Carey Mine, Hurley Wis." (A historic site closed in 1964).
• Native Copper in Epidote (Mohawk, MICH): A distinctive pistachio-green calcium aluminum iron silicate chunk from the Keweenaw Peninsula. Retains its vintage torn ledger label reading: "Epidote (Copper), alum Iron Sil., Seneca Mine Mich, Mohawk Mich.
• "Arsenopyrite Ore: A metallic, steel-gray iron arsenic sulfide specimen bearing a micro-printed antique paper label attached directly to the matrix face.
• Septarian Nodule ("Lightning Stone"): A beautifully patterned specimen displaying angular, deep-brown dehydration cracks filled with crystalline mineral veins

Additional Crystallized Matrixes: Features a blocky, rhombohedral calcite/fluorite crystal cluster, an amber chalcedony geode pocket, a crystalline dark magnetite/chromite mass, and an assortment of miniature matrix chips.

Historical Artifacts:

• Teal Slag / Cullet Glass: A vibrant, glassy opaque teal-green chunk of historic industrial slag glass attached to its raw kiln matrix crust, typical of late 19th-century upper Midwest iron smelting or glassworks.