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Area of Science:

  • Paleontology
  • Geochemistry
  • Taphonomy

Background:

  • Fossils are vital for understanding past life but degrade upon surface exposure.
  • The final stages of fossilization (taphonomy), particularly weathering, are poorly understood.
  • Research on fossil dissolution rates under acidic conditions is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To experimentally determine vertebrate fossil dissolution rates under varying pH levels.
  • To investigate the impact of acidic precipitation on fossil preservation.
  • To quantify the chemical and physical changes during fossil weathering.

Main Methods:

  • Vertebrate fossils were subjected to controlled laboratory conditions at pH 4, 5, and 6 for 21 days.
  • Dissolution was measured via mass loss, elemental analysis (ICP-MS), mineralogy (XRD), and histology.
  • Hydrochloric acid (HCl) was used to adjust pH in tap water solutions.

Main Results:

  • Fossils exhibited significant mass loss, increasing with decreasing pH (greatest at pH 4).
  • Elemental analysis showed calcium and phosphorus loss from fossils and increased presence in solutions.
  • Mineralogical analysis revealed gypsum loss, indicating dissolution of primary and secondary mineral phases.

Conclusions:

  • Acidic conditions significantly accelerate vertebrate fossil dissolution, impacting their preservation.
  • This study provides the first quantitative data on fossil dissolution rates.
  • Findings highlight a potential bias in the vertebrate fossil record due to weathering processes.