Preparation of Microfossil sample By Ismail Ahmed Ismail

Code no :50108

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Many people associate paleontology (the study of ancient life) with dinosaurs and other large and spectacular fossils. Although dinosaurs get a lot of attention, and deservedly so, there are many fields of paleontological research that are virtually unknown to the general public but of great importance to geologists. One such field is micropaleontology, the study of microscopic fossils, or microfossils, which are small, fossilized remains that can best be studied using a microscope. eemingly lifeless pieces of rocks can contain thousands of entombed miniature fossils that are very important for the understanding of our changing planet. Microfossils include a wide variety of minute organisms, including single! celled plants and animals, small pieces of larger organisms such as teeth and scales, and pollen and spores. "he #uvenile forms of many larger animals also may be preserved as microfossils "he sedimentary rocks of Ohio contain an abundance of microfossils. "hese hidden treasures are not only fascinating and beautiful but also can be used to solve a wide range of geological problems. $ecause most microfossils re%uire good laboratory facilities to be e&tracted from the rocks and specialized e%uipment to be studied, it is only during the past '( years or so that micropaleontology has become an important research field and, as discussed below, a highly applicable science. MIC#'('$$I) "*T#ACTI'N AN! P#"PA#ATI'N Microfossils are prepared using several different techni%ues depending on the origin and composition of the fossil and on the chemistry and hardness of the

enclosing rock (matri&). Microfossil preparation basically consists of the following steps) breaking up (disaggregating) the sample, removing fine sediment through sieving, drying the residue, and handpicking under a microscope.

A general rule is that the harder the sample, the harsher the treatment. *or soft and porous sediments, wet or dry sieving is generally the simplest and most efficient method and is ine&pensive. +f the specimens are embedded in harder rock, such as limestone, sieving will not be of much use, at least not initially. +nstead, the rock must be dissolved or crushed without damaging the fossils. , emi!hard, rock, such as shale, can be saturated with water and then put into a freezer. "he formation of ice breaks up the rock. "his freeze!thaw method can be repeated several times until the rock is disaggregated. hale also can be soaked in kerosene. (-ote) kerosene is highly flammable and must be used with great care and only in a well!ventilated location.) After soaking for a few hours, the kerosene is poured off and the sample is covered with water. "he water forces the kerosene out of the pores in the rock and in the process disaggregates it. Although some of the fossils may be damaged during these processes, rocks generally break at their weakest points, which are the contacts between the fossils and the matri&.

Many microfossils are insoluble in acids. +f they are embedded in a carbonate!rich rock such as limestone, an acid solution (commonly acetic acid) can be used to dissolve the rock without damaging the fossils. "he residue of acid! resistant minerals and fossils is generally free of adhering sediment particles. .hen studying the sieved and dried residue for the first time under a regular reflected!light microscope, a whole new e&citing world of minute fossils appears.

+f greater magnification is re%uired, a scanning electron microscope ( /M) commonly is used. /M produces beautiful and highly detailed images of the fossils. %$"(%)N"$$ '( MIC#'('$$I)$ Microfossils are very useful in many geological investigations. "heir size and abundance make them invaluable tools for determining the age of sedimentary rocks, and they are commonly used as inde& fossils (fossils that are diagnostic of a certain age or rock unit). Microfossils can be used for correlations within and between continents in order to show whether or not a body of rock was deposited at the same time in different regions. uch information allows reconstructions of the history of the /arth. 0ocks that lack larger fossils may, and commonly do, have abundant microfossils. "he microfossils may be the only tool available for determining the environmental origin and age of a rock. Microfossils are particularly useful in e&amining drill cores, which have obvious sample size limitations.

"he composition of the microfossil also may have advantages. ome groups, such as conodonts (see discussion below), show variations in color when e&posed to different temperatures and can be used as a ,paleothermometer., $ecause oil and gas are formed within a specific temperature range, it is of great importance to know to what degree a rock has been heated during its geologic history in order to determine whether or not it may be a source rock, and, as such, if it is worth e&ploring further. "hus, microfossils not only have great scientific value but are also of crucial economic importance.

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