124 ArcJuviOi Plant from Sussex CotiiUy, N. J. 



Pei'liaps its most niaikod feature is its minemliza,tion at certain 

 points with manganese, zinc and lead, — tiie great mines of Og> 

 densbnrg and Franklin Furnace being enclosed bj the limestone. 

 While its nortlieastern portion is mainly a broad continuous out- 

 cro]), it is gi-eatly broken to the southwest, forming by faulting, 

 as we suj)pose, detached areas of limited size, occurring in the 

 most unexpected positions. 



One of these little areas furnishes the specimens to which at- 

 tention is here dii-ected. The plant-remains appear as black 

 bands on tiie rock, consisting of very thin films of graphite ; 

 in some the thickness reaches about 0.5 mm., but it is generally 

 less. The average width of the bands is about 3 mm., and the 

 greatest continuous length observed about 6 cm., though it is 

 a[)pai'ent that when entire they were much longer. In many 

 parts of the rock these are matted together to form broad, black 

 patches, which are in reality thin carbon strata. The bands and 

 films lie i)arallel with the bedding of the limestone. No cellular 

 structure has thus far been detected. 



As this is undoubtedly the most ancient plant yet discovered, 

 I should suggest for it the generic name Arch.^ophyton ; 

 and to acknowledge in an imperfect manner my obligation to 

 one to whom I am indebted for encouragement and counsel in 

 study and investigation, and at the same time to associate with 

 this interesting plant the n^me of one foremost in American Pa- 

 Iseobotany, I would denominate the plant Arch^eophytox 

 Newberry ANUM. 



While the imperfect nature of the fossil forbids any definite 

 statement as to its botanical affinity, we may, perhaps, assume 

 its relation to the algae. 



The general aspect of the specimens is well shown in the ac- 

 companying figure (Plate VII.). 



