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A silicified bird from Quaternary hot spring deposits
Alan Channing1, Mary Higby Schweitzer, John R Horner
1School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3YE, UK. channinga@cardiff.ac.uk
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|July 19, 2005
Summary
Exceptional avian fossils were found in hot spring sinters. Microbial activity rapidly encased the American coot, preserving its body and feathers, offering new insights into fossilization processes.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Geology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Fossilization of large, fleshy organisms is rare, especially preserving external morphology.
- Hot spring environments are known for mineral precipitation but rarely yield vertebrate fossils.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first avian fossil from high-temperature hot spring deposits.
- To investigate the mechanism of exceptional preservation in sinters.
- To identify conditions and markers for similar fossil preservation.
Main Methods:
- Excavation and analysis of a three-dimensional external body mould of an American coot (Fulica americana).
- Geochemical and petrographic analysis of sinters and fossilized remains.
- Microbial analysis of colonizing communities on the carcass.
Main Results:
- Discovery of a well-preserved American coot fossil in Holocene sinters.
- Rapid silica encrustation by microbial communities preserved gross morphology before degradation.
- Opal-A deposition, potentially microbially mediated, is key to preserving fleshy carcasses.
Conclusions:
- Hot spring sinters can provide exceptional preservation of vertebrate fossils.
- Microbial mediation plays a crucial role in rapid mineral precipitation for fossilization.
- Identifying specific sinter macrofabrics can indicate environments suitable for such preservation.