Liberating microfossils from indurated carbonates: comparison of three disaggregation methods
<p>Three disaggregation methods, i.e. Calgon, acetic acid and electric pulse fragmentation (EPF), have been applied to a range of heavily lithified, carbonate-rich sedimentary rock samples of Paleogene age. Samples are predominantly from the carbonate-rich, shallow water domain (<span class...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Micropalaeontology |
| Online Access: | https://jm.copernicus.org/articles/39/169/2020/jm-39-169-2020.pdf |
| Summary: | <p>Three disaggregation methods, i.e. Calgon, acetic acid and electric
pulse fragmentation (EPF), have been applied to a range of heavily
lithified, carbonate-rich sedimentary rock samples of Paleogene age. Samples
are predominantly from the carbonate-rich, shallow water domain (<span class="inline-formula"><250</span> m palaeo-water depth) of Tanzania, Malta and the United Arab Emirates
(Paleogene Tethys Ocean). The effectiveness and efficiency of each method
has been compared, in addition to the preservation of the resultant liberated
microfossil material (primarily larger foraminifera; LF). Of the three
methods, the most efficient and effective was EPF, which liberated the
largest number of LF in a very short processing time and resulted in the
best preservation. Samples with calcitic, silicic, and clay matrices and
cements were successfully disaggregated using EPF. In this study, recovered
microfossils were largely <span class="inline-formula">>500</span> <span class="inline-formula">µ</span>m, suggesting this
technique may be more appropriate for liberating larger microfossils (e.g.
LFs); however, we discuss nuances to the method that would allow for more
effective recovery of smaller microfossil specimens. The more traditional
acetic acid method was also able to disaggregate a number of the samples;
however, preservation of the LF was compromised. We suggest a best-practice
methodology for implementing EPF in micropalaeontological studies.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 0262-821X 2041-4978 |