Fossilized Palm Tree

In front of Quality Foods in University Village Square at 530 Fifth Street.

Fossilized palm tree imbedded in a large rock is displayed outside Quality Foods in University Village Square. Discovered during excavations at mall site in 2008. Installed in it's current location in 2010.

Plaque reads:
The Martin Fossil

During an excavation operation on May 21, 2008, a petrified log (Cretaceous Fossil) was unearthed and recognized as significant by Jeff Martin. Upon subsequent inspection of the fossil by geologists it was determined that the fossil was formerly a palm tree, approximately 72 million years old. The fossil's size, age and good condition is what makes it so unique. It is seated below Tower A1, University Village Shopping Centre, Nanaimo, BC.

The Cretaceous fossil was discovered at
Latitude = 49.1561, Longitude = -123.9502

The importance of such a find has been met with enthusiasm by the earth sciences community and to date is the largest fossilized piece of wood found in the area.

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