Recently, a large number of Cordaites petrified wood fossils, approximately 295 million years old, were discovered in the suburbs of Yangquan City, Shanxi Province. One of them was designated as a National Level 2 Key Protected Paleontological Fossil. The CCTV News app reported this.

These fossils were discovered on a slope beside a farm road in Yinying Town, in the suburbs of Yangquan City, located approximately 3 meters above the road surface, with an exposed portion approximately 50 centimeters long. Based on previous stratigraphic dating research and analysis of geological structures, the petrified wood fossil discovered this time is estimated to be approximately 295 million years old.

This petrified wood fossil faces southeast, indicating that at that time, rivers in this area carried abundant sediment and flowed rapidly, and a large number of trees were toppled by the torrents and quickly buried in sediment. Subsequently, minerals contained in groundwater gradually filled the spaces, forming the mineralized fossil seen today.

According to the 'National Paleontological Fossil Grading Standard (Trial Version)', large petrified wood fossils that are 5 to 10 meters in length, or 80 to 100 centimeters in diameter, possess clear structure or texture, and have a high degree of completeness, are classified as Level 2 Key Protected Petrified Wood Fossils. As a result of on-site investigation, the diameter of this petrified wood fossil is approximately 82 centimeters, and it was confirmed to meet the criteria for a National Level 2 Key Protected Paleontological Fossil. (Source: People's Daily Online Japanese Edition / Editor: YF)