Electron microscopy reveals unique microfossil preservation in 1 billion-year-old lakes
Loading...
Authors
Saunders, M.
Kong, C.
Menon, S.
Wacey, D.
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
2014
Date
Publisher
Language
Abstract
Electron microscopy was applied to the study of 1 billion-year-old microfossils from
northwest Scotland in order to investigate their 3D morphology and mode of fossilization. 3DFIB-
SEM revealed high quality preservation of organic cell walls with only minor amounts of
post-mortem decomposition, followed by variable degrees of morphological alteration (folding
and compression of cell walls) during sediment compaction. EFTEM mapping plus SAED
revealed a diverse fossilizing mineral assemblage including K-rich clay, Fe-Mg-rich clay and
calcium phosphate, with each mineral occupying specific microenvironments in proximity to
carbonaceous microfossil cell walls.
Type
Article
Description
The article of record as published may be located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/522/1/012024
Series/Report No
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 522 (2014) 012024, Electron Microscopy and Analysis Group Conference 2013 (EMAG2013)
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.