Ion probe measurement of rare earth elements in biogenic phosphates

Abstract

The rare earth element (REE) distributions in individual fish teeth and conodonts have been measured by ion probe. Concentrations and La Yb ratios show little variations, except in the enamel, which suggests that REE uptake from the sedimented biogenic debris takes place at the water-sediment interface as an essentially quantitative process without fractionation. Late diagenetic disturbances remained of marginal importance. Hence, REE in phosphatic debris might reflect the input from the overlying water column.