Characterization of fossil remains using XRF, XPS and XAFS spectroscopies

Zougrou, Ioanna-Maria; Katsikini, M.; Pinakidou, F.; Brzhezinskaya, M. M.; Παπαδοπούλου, Λ.; Vlachos, Evangelos; Tsoukala, Εvangelia; Paloura, E. C.

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/712/1/012090

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…STXM‐based XANES investigations at the Ca L‐edge confirm the presence of fluorapatite within muscle fibres and the presence of Mg‐rich carbonates (see Cosmidis & Benzerara and Zougrou et al . for comparison) (Fig. A).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Exceptional preservation requires fast biodegradation: thylacocephalan specimens from La Voulte‐sur‐Rhône (Callovian, Jurassic, France)

et al. 2019

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Konservat-Lagerst€ atten are seen as snapshots of past biodiversity for a given location and time. However, processes leading to the exceptional morphological preservation of fossils in these deposits remain incompletely understood. This results in a deficient assessment of taphonomic biases and limits the robustness/relevance of palaeobiological reconstructions. Here, we report the mineralogical characterization of crustacean fossils preserved within carbonate-rich concretions from the Jurassic Konservat-Lagerst€ atte of La Voulte-sur-Rhône (Ard eche, France). The combination of SEM-EDS, TEM, synchrotron-based XRF, XRD and XANES allows the mineralogical phases composing these fossils (i.e. fluorapatite, Fe-sulfides (pyrite, pyrrhotite) and Mg-calcite) and the surrounding matrix (i.e. Mg-calcite, clays and detrital silicates) to be identified. Fluorapatite and pyrite (and pyrrhotite) precipitated during decay under anoxic conditions, replacing delicate organic structures and preserving anatomical details. These mineral structures were subsequently consolidated by a Mg-calcite cement. Of note, histologically similar tissues were replaced by the same mineral phases, confirming that fossilization (in La Voulte) occurred rapidly enough to be influenced by tissue composition. Altogether, the present study shows that exceptional preservation requires fast biodegradation, thereby confirming recent experimental evidence.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Exceptional preservation requires fast biodegradation: thylacocephalan specimens from La Voulte‐sur‐Rhône (Callovian, Jurassic, France)

et al. 2019

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“…However, these studies do not include detailed analysis of the spectra. This shoulder peak is necessary, particularly for the fitting of fossil bone samples while the simulation results suggest that it is related to the symmetry of the Ca (1) site (Zougrou et al 2016).…”

Section: Ctm4xas Simulation Of the Ca L 23 -Edge Xanes Spectrum Of Hamentioning

confidence: 99%

Ca L2,3-edge XANES and Sr K-edge EXAFS study of hydroxyapatite and fossil bone apatite

Zougrou

Katsikini

Brzhezinskaya

et al. 2016

Sci Nat

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Upon burial, the organic and inorganic components of hard tissues such as bone, teeth, and tusks are subjected to various alterations as a result of interactions with the chemical milieu of soil, groundwater, and presence of microorganisms. In this study, simulation of the Ca L 2,3-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectrum of hydroxyapatite, using the CTM4XAS code, reveals that the different symmetry of the two nonequivalent Ca(1) and Ca(2) sites in the unit cell gives rise to specific spectral features. Moreover, Ca L 2,3-edge XANES spectroscopy is applied in order to assess variations in fossil bone apatite crystallinity due to heavy bacterial alteration and catastrophic mineral dissolution, compared to well-preserved fossil apatite, fresh bone, and geologic apatite reference samples. Fossilization-induced chemical alterations are investigated by means of Ca L 2,3-edge XANES and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and are related to histological evaluation using optical microscopy images. Finally, the variations in the bonding environment of Sr and its preference for substitution in the Ca(1) or Ca(2) sites upon increasing the Sr/Ca ratio is assessed by Sr K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy.

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“…56. Alkalinity (pH), X-ray diffraction (XRD) 57,58 in an Aeris Malvern Panalytical benchtop X-ray diffractometer (2018, The Netherlands) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) 59,60 in an Axios Malvern Panalytical WD-XRF spectrometer tests were applied to the microsampled bulk sediments subsamples at Macquarie University.…”

Section: Microstratigraphy and Spectroscopymentioning

confidence: 99%

The demise of the giant ape Gigantopithecus blacki

Zhang,

Westaway,

Haberle

et al. 2024

Nature

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The largest ever primate and one of the largest of the southeast Asian megafauna, Gigantopithecus blacki1, persisted in China from about 2.0 million years until the late middle Pleistocene when it became extinct2–4. Its demise is enigmatic considering that it was one of the few Asian great apes to go extinct in the last 2.6 million years, whereas others, including orangutan, survived until the present5. The cause of the disappearance of G. blacki remains unresolved but could shed light on primate resilience and the fate of megafauna in this region6. Here we applied three multidisciplinary analyses—timing, past environments and behaviour—to 22 caves in southern China. We used 157 radiometric ages from six dating techniques to establish a timeline for the demise of G. blacki. We show that from 2.3 million years ago the environment was a mosaic of forests and grasses, providing ideal conditions for thriving G. blacki populations. However, just before and during the extinction window between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago there was enhanced environmental variability from increased seasonality, which caused changes in plant communities and an increase in open forest environments. Although its close relative Pongo weidenreichi managed to adapt its dietary preferences and behaviour to this variability, G. blacki showed signs of chronic stress and dwindling populations. Ultimately its struggle to adapt led to the extinction of the greatest primate to ever inhabit the Earth.

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Characterization of fossil remains using XRF, XPS and XAFS spectroscopies

Cited by 4 publications

References 8 publications

Exceptional preservation requires fast biodegradation: thylacocephalan specimens from La Voulte‐sur‐Rhône (Callovian, Jurassic, France)

Exceptional preservation requires fast biodegradation: thylacocephalan specimens from La Voulte‐sur‐Rhône (Callovian, Jurassic, France)

Ca L2,3-edge XANES and Sr K-edge EXAFS study of hydroxyapatite and fossil bone apatite

The demise of the giant ape Gigantopithecus blacki

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