The vanadium content of the fossil club mosses Lepidodendron aculeatum, Lepidophloios laricinus, Sigillaria rugosa, and S. boblayi from the Saar (lower Sulzbach layers) was greater (mean 717 vs. 397 mg/kg) than that from the Ruhr (lower Bochum to upper Dorsten layers). Nickel levels in the same fossiis were higher in the Ruhr (222-385 mg/kg) than in the Saar (35-94 mg/kg) layers. The vanadium/nickel ratio was 12.5 for the Saar fossils and 1.5 for those from the Ruhr; this ratio can be used for identifying fossil source. An explanation for these differences is given. -- AATA