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Technique for disaggregating mudstones to retrieve microfossils and non-clay residual particles

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2016

J Bret Bennington*
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061

Extract

This technique is effective for completely breaking down moderately calcareous to noncalcareous mudstones and shales to produce a concentrated residue of microfossils and non-clay minerals. I have applied this treatment to Mississippian and Pennsylvanian age mudstones and have easily retrieved abundant conodonts, ostracodes, foraminifers, spores, wood fragments, fish teeth, vertebrate bone fragments, silt, mica, pyrite crystals and framboids, and phosphate nodules. All of the above items emerge from the treatment with fine structures such as spines and surface ornamentation undamaged and completely free of surficial clay. This technique is a modification of that of Lund (1970). The chemical used by Lund (Union Carbide Amine 220) is no longer manufactured and an effective alternative is reported here. Furthermore, the additional steps in processing reported here increase the efficacity of the technique for completely dissolving indurated mudstones.

Type
Paleontological Notes
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

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References

Lund, R. 1970. A new technique for chemical preparation of fossils. Journal of Paleontology, 44:578.Google Scholar