Abstract
Synchrotron radiation micro-X-Ray Fluorescence (μ-XRF), X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) spectroscopies are applied for the study of paleontological findings. More specifically the costal plate of a gigantic terrestrial turtle Titanochelon bacharidisi and a fossilized coprolite of the cave spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta spelaea are studied. Ca L2,3-edge NEXAFS and Ca 2p XPS are applied for the identification and quantification of apatite and Ca containing minerals. XRF mapping and XAFS are employed for the study of the spatial distribution and speciation of the minerals related to the deposition environment.
Highlights
The investigation of fossil remains provides valuable information on the evolution of living species, the fossilization conditions and the palaeoenvironment
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping and X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) are employed for the study of the spatial distribution and speciation of the minerals related to the deposition environment
Ca L2,3-edge near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopies are applied in combination with extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping and more commonly used techniques such as optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the assessment of diagenesis of two different types of paleontological remains: a hyena coprolite and a giant tortoise costal plate
Summary
The investigation of fossil remains provides valuable information on the evolution of living species, the fossilization conditions and the palaeoenvironment. Ca L2,3-edge near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopies are applied in combination with extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping and more commonly used techniques such as optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the assessment of diagenesis of two different types of paleontological remains: a hyena coprolite and a giant tortoise costal plate. OM and SEM are used to assess the morphology and chemical composition of the coprolite matrix and inclusions, whereas XRF maps were recorded to acquire complementary information on the distribution of P, Ca, Mn and Fe in the specimens [3,4]. Fe K-edge EXAFS was used to investigate metal-rich inclusions in the coprolite matrix
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