All articles tagged with #posidonia shale
Paleontologists in Germany have discovered a new species of long-necked marine reptile, Plesionectes longicollum, from the Jurassic period, expanding knowledge of ancient ocean ecosystems and highlighting the diversity of marine life in the Posidonia Shale fossil beds.
Scientists from The University of Texas at Austin have discovered that the golden shimmer of fossils from Germany's Posidonia shale is not due to pyrite (fool's gold) as previously believed, but rather a blend of minerals. The fossils, which are among the world's best-preserved specimens of sea life from the Early Jurassic, primarily consist of phosphate minerals. This finding provides insights into the fossilization process and the role of oxygen in their formation. The research challenges long-standing theories about exceptional fossil preservation and highlights the importance of oxygenation in enhancing preservation.
Scientists have discovered that phosphate minerals with yellow calcite, not pyrite, are responsible for the golden glow of fossils embedded in Germany's Posidonia Shale. The fossils, which include ammonites, bivalves, and crustaceans, were analyzed using a high-powered scanning electron microscope, revealing that the surrounding shale contained microscopic clusters of pyrite crystals, but the fossils themselves were phosphatized or yellow calcite. The research sheds light on the fossilization environment and the chemical reactions necessary for fossilization to occur.
Researchers have discovered that the golden shine on 183 million-year-old fossils found in the Posidonia Shale in southwest Germany is not due to pyrite, but rather the fossils are mostly made up of phosphate minerals. The fossils, particularly those of soft-bodied sea life, were preserved in anoxic conditions, but an influx of oxygen was needed to encourage the chemical processes needed for this kind of fossilization. The study sheds light on the environment in which these fossils were formed and is published in Earth Science Reviews.
Scientists at The University of Texas at Austin and collaborators found that the golden hue of fossils from Germany's Posidonia shale is not from pyrite, but from a mix of minerals that hints at the conditions in which the fossils formed. The fossils, which are among the world's best-preserved specimens of sea life from the Early Jurassic, are primarily made up of phosphate minerals, revealing key details about the fossilization environment. The research suggests that although an anoxic seafloor sets the stage for fossilization, it took a pulse of oxygen to drive the chemical reactions needed for fossilization.