Electron microscopy reveals unique microfossil preservation in 1 billion-year-old lakes

Martin Saunders, C. Kong, S.K. Menon, David Wacey

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference paperConference paperpeer-review

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. 3D-FIB-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. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationJournal of Physics: Conference Series
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
PublisherIOP Publishing
Pages1-4
Volume522
ISBN (Print)17426588
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014
EventElectron microscopy reveals unique microfossil preservation in 1 billion-year-old lakes - York, United Kingdom
Duration: 1 Jan 2014 → …

Conference

ConferenceElectron microscopy reveals unique microfossil preservation in 1 billion-year-old lakes
Period1/01/14 → …

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