Metasequoia (Dawn Redwood) Fossil - Montana

These are well defined 1.9" long Metasequoia (Dawn Redwood) fossil from Montana. It is Oligocene in age and the dark preservation contrasts well against the light colored shale. The Metasequoia genus was considered extinct until a living population was discovered in China in 1941. This makes the dawn redwood a classic example of a living fossil.