Methodology for dissolution of sediment and calcareous deposits for paleontological specimen collection and identification

The Lance Creek Formation (Late Cretaceous) is significant in the study of late dinosaurs and is a diverse formation containing both terrestrial and aquatic macrofossils. To study this important ecosystem, all of the fossils present must be uncovered and examined from Lance Creek sedimentary rocks,...

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Main Authors: Jack Schultz, Griffin Scheurer, Lydia Tackett, Dianna Berry
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-01-01
Series:MethodsX
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016122001960
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author Jack Schultz
Griffin Scheurer
Lydia Tackett
Dianna Berry
author_facet Jack Schultz
Griffin Scheurer
Lydia Tackett
Dianna Berry
author_sort Jack Schultz
collection DOAJ
description The Lance Creek Formation (Late Cretaceous) is significant in the study of late dinosaurs and is a diverse formation containing both terrestrial and aquatic macrofossils. To study this important ecosystem, all of the fossils present must be uncovered and examined from Lance Creek sedimentary rocks, which exhibit variable degrees of lithification. In order to liberate the fossils, a dissolution methodology was designed to determine which solution was most effective at uncovering specimens and dissolving/disaggregating sediment. Different solutions were tested including water, a 50% Calgon© solution, and a 5% acetic acid solution. The control was a sedimentary rock sample not subjected to any solutions prior to rinsing and sieving. A small-scale dissolution (10 g of loose sediment) was performed using each solution and examined for fossils. Acetic acid was deemed the most effective solution for the dissolution of dense sandstones, and indurated sediment from the Lance Creek Formation. Large-scale disaggregation (800 g of consolidated sedimentary rock) yielded abundant terrestrial, fluvial, and marine macrofossils. Macrofossil disaggregation using these methods has the potential to yield a more diverse assemblage of contemporaneous fossils than macrofossils alone, and can therefore provide substantial insight into ecological reconstructions. • A small-scale study was done to determine which solution was the most efficient at dissolution of sediment. Acetic acid was deemed the most effective. • A large-scale experiment was done on dense sandstones using 5% acetic acid and a shaking incubator. • A large-scale experiment of indurated sediment was performed using 5% acetic acid.
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spelling doaj.art-5414e2f024104c36b1ecca6f6a9f832d2022-12-22T04:40:26ZengElsevierMethodsX2215-01612022-01-019101816Methodology for dissolution of sediment and calcareous deposits for paleontological specimen collection and identificationJack Schultz0Griffin Scheurer1Lydia Tackett2Dianna Berry3Science Research Program, Westhampton Beach High School, 49 Lilac Road Westhampton Beach, NY 11942, United States; Corresponding author.Science Research Program, Westhampton Beach High School, 49 Lilac Road Westhampton Beach, NY 11942, United StatesDepartment of Earth, Environmental, and Geospatial Science, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58102, United StatesScience Research Program, Westhampton Beach High School, 49 Lilac Road Westhampton Beach, NY 11942, United StatesThe Lance Creek Formation (Late Cretaceous) is significant in the study of late dinosaurs and is a diverse formation containing both terrestrial and aquatic macrofossils. To study this important ecosystem, all of the fossils present must be uncovered and examined from Lance Creek sedimentary rocks, which exhibit variable degrees of lithification. In order to liberate the fossils, a dissolution methodology was designed to determine which solution was most effective at uncovering specimens and dissolving/disaggregating sediment. Different solutions were tested including water, a 50% Calgon© solution, and a 5% acetic acid solution. The control was a sedimentary rock sample not subjected to any solutions prior to rinsing and sieving. A small-scale dissolution (10 g of loose sediment) was performed using each solution and examined for fossils. Acetic acid was deemed the most effective solution for the dissolution of dense sandstones, and indurated sediment from the Lance Creek Formation. Large-scale disaggregation (800 g of consolidated sedimentary rock) yielded abundant terrestrial, fluvial, and marine macrofossils. Macrofossil disaggregation using these methods has the potential to yield a more diverse assemblage of contemporaneous fossils than macrofossils alone, and can therefore provide substantial insight into ecological reconstructions. • A small-scale study was done to determine which solution was the most efficient at dissolution of sediment. Acetic acid was deemed the most effective. • A large-scale experiment was done on dense sandstones using 5% acetic acid and a shaking incubator. • A large-scale experiment of indurated sediment was performed using 5% acetic acid.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016122001960The dissolution of sediment for small macrofossil collection and identification
spellingShingle Jack Schultz
Griffin Scheurer
Lydia Tackett
Dianna Berry
Methodology for dissolution of sediment and calcareous deposits for paleontological specimen collection and identification
MethodsX
The dissolution of sediment for small macrofossil collection and identification
title Methodology for dissolution of sediment and calcareous deposits for paleontological specimen collection and identification
title_full Methodology for dissolution of sediment and calcareous deposits for paleontological specimen collection and identification
title_fullStr Methodology for dissolution of sediment and calcareous deposits for paleontological specimen collection and identification
title_full_unstemmed Methodology for dissolution of sediment and calcareous deposits for paleontological specimen collection and identification
title_short Methodology for dissolution of sediment and calcareous deposits for paleontological specimen collection and identification
title_sort methodology for dissolution of sediment and calcareous deposits for paleontological specimen collection and identification
topic The dissolution of sediment for small macrofossil collection and identification
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016122001960
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