Fan Palm Fossil from Tesla at UCB Paleontology Museum

The geologic zone where the Tesla coal mines were located is special to paleontologists as well as biologists. Referred to as the Tesla Formation, the coal, sand and clay deposits were laid down during the Eocene when the area was a tropical forest.

Numerous hardwood and evergreen fossils dating back millions of years have been found at Tesla and are housed at the UCB Paleontology Museum. One specimen, a palm frond fossil, is dated at 45-50 million years old.