Abstract
Studying crystalline structure of conodont microfossils with X-ray diffraction
Abstracts with programs - Geological Society of America, Vol.50(4)
Geological Society of America, North-Central Section, 52nd annual meeting
04/2018
Abstract
Conodonts are agnathan chordates and the tooth-like elements of their feeding apparatus can be used to provide chemical and thermal information on the ancient ocean and related sedimentary basins. These abundant microfossils have been used to assess the thermal history of geologic formation through the establishment of the Conodont Color Alteration Index (CAI). CAI is a common qualitative method used to assess the past thermal history that relies on an optical assessment of the fossil color. Additional studies have suggested that there are chemical and structural changes that could also be used to create a more quantitative metric. Changes in the crystalline lattice also can dictate uptake of trace elements and lead to differences during diagenesis. Moreover, systematic investigations of structural variations in different conodont elements can be used to provide additional paleobiological information of this important clade. In the present study, we analyzed the crystalline structure of cone-like conodonts (coniform elements) using a Bruker D8Quest single crystal X-ray diffractometer equipped a CMOS area detector, which allows us to explore diffraction patterns of both highly-ordered, single-crystal and polycrystalline material. The elements displayed variability along the length of the element ranging from single crystalline to polycrystalline. Mesocrystallinity was noted in a large subset of the samples with texturing also observed in the polycrystalline regions. The use of mosaicity and beta values will be discussed as potential structural metrics to describe crystallographic changes in conodont elements.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Studying crystalline structure of conodont microfossils with X-ray diffraction
- Creators
- Mohammad Shohel - University of IowaBradley D CramerTori Z Forbes
- Resource Type
- Abstract
- Publication Details
- Abstracts with programs - Geological Society of America, Vol.50(4)
- Conference
- Geological Society of America, North-Central Section, 52nd annual meeting
- Publisher
- Geological Society of America (GSA)
- ISSN
- 0016-7592
- Alternative title
- Geological Society of America, North-Central Section, 52nd annual meeting
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/2018
- Academic Unit
- Earth and Environmental Sciences; Chemistry; Office Of The Provost; Civil and Environmental Engineering; Core Research Facilities; International Programs
- Record Identifier
- 9984230119802771
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