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A slab and counter slab, more often called a part and counterpart in paleoentomology<ref name="Jepson2011">{{cite journal |last1=Jepson |first1=J.E. |last2=Ansorge |first2=J. |last3=Jarzembowski |first3=E.A. |year=2011 |title=New snakeflies (Insecta: Raphidioptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of the UK, Spain and Brazil |journal= Palaeontology |volume=54 |issue=2 |pages=385–395 |doi=10.1111/j.1475-4983.2011.01038.x}}</ref> and paleobotany,<ref name="Channing2011">{{cite journal |last1=Channing |first1=A. |last2=Zamuner |first2=A. |last3=Edwards |first3=D. |last4=Guido |first4=D. |year=2011 |title=''Equisetum thermale'' sp. nov. (Equisetales) from the Jurassic San Agustin hot spring deposit, Patagonia: Anatomy, paleoecology, and inferred paleoecophysiology. |journal= American Journal of Botany |volume=98 |issue=4 |pages=680–697 |doi= 10.3732/ajb.1000211 |pmid=21613167}}</ref> are the matching halves of a compression fossil, a fossil-bearing [[Matrix (geology)|matrix]] formed in [[sedimentary]] deposits. When excavated the matrix may be split along the natural grain or cleavage of the rock. A fossil embedded in the sediment may then also split down the middle, with fossil remains sticking to both surfaces, or the counter slab may simply show a negative impression or mould of the fossil.<ref>[http://www.proz.com/kudoz/english_to_polish/archaeology/762880-slab_counter_slab.html ProZ]</ref> Comparing slab and counter slab has led to the exposure of a number of fossil forgeries.
Differences between the impressions on slab and counterslab led astronomer [[Fred Hoyle]] and applied physicist [[Lee Spetner]] in 1985 to declare that some ''[[Archaeopteryx]]'' fossils had been [[Archaeopteryx#Controversy|forged]], a claim dismissed by most palaeontologists.<ref>[
In its November 1999 edition, ''[[National Geographic Magazine|National Geographic]]'' magazine announced the discovery of ''[[Archaeoraptor]]'', a link between dinosaurs and birds, from a 125 million year-old fossil that had come from the [[Liaoning Province]] of China. Chinese palaeontologist [[Xu Xing (paleontologist)|Xu Xing]] came into possession of the counter slab through a fossil hunter. On comparing his fossil with images of ''Archaeoraptor'' it became evident that it was a composite fake. His note to ''National Geographic'' led to consternation and embarrassment. A certain Lewis Simons investigated the matter on behalf of National Geographic. In October 2000 he reported what he termed:
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