Permineralization is a process of fossilization of bones and tissues in which mineral deposits form internal casts of organisms. Carried by water, these minerals fill the spaces within organic tissue. Because of the nature of the casts, permineralization is particularly useful in studies of the internal structures of organisms, usually of plants.[1]
Permineralization, a type of fossilization, involves deposits of minerals within the cells of organisms. Water from the ground, lakes, or oceans seeps into the pores of organic tissue and forms a crystal cast with deposited minerals. Crystals begin to form in the porous cell walls. This process continues on the inner surface of the walls until the central cavity of the cell, the lumen, is completely filled. The cell walls themselves remain intact surrounding the crystals.[2][need quotation to verify]
Silicificationedit
In silicification,[3] the weathering of rocks releases silicate minerals and the silica makes its way into a body of still water. Eventually, the mineral-laden water permeates the pores and cells of some dead organism, where it becomes a gel. Over time, the gel will dehydrate, forming an opaline crystal structure that is an internal cast of the organism. This accounts for the detail found in permineralization. Silicification reveals information about what type of environment the organism was likely to have lived in. Most fossils that have been silicified are bacteria, algae,[3] and other plant life. Silicification is the most common type of permineralization.[4]
Carbonate mineralization involves the formation of coal balls. Coal balls are the fossilizations of many different plants and their tissues. They often occur in the presence of seawater or acidic peat. Coal balls are calcareous permineralizations of peat by calcium and magnesium carbonates. Often spherical in shape and ranging from a few grams to several hundred kilograms in mass, coal balls are formed when water containing carbonate permeates the cells of an organism. This type of fossilization yields information about plant life in the Upper Carboniferous Period (325 to 280 million years ago).[5]
Pyritized ammonite of the genus Lytoceras in Holzmaden Shale
Pyritizationedit
This method involves the elements sulfur and iron. Organisms may become pyritized when they are in marine sediments saturated with iron sulfides. (Pyrite is iron sulfide.) As organic matter decays it releases sulfide which reacts with dissolved iron in the surrounding waters. Pyrite replaces carbonate shell material due to an undersaturation of carbonate in the surrounding waters. Some plants become pyritized when they are in a clay terrain, but to a lesser extent than in a marine environment. Some pyritized fossils include Precambrian microfossils, marine arthropods and plants.[6][7]
Scientific implicationsedit
Permineralized fossils preserve original cell structure, which can help scientists study an organism at the cellular level. These are three-dimensional fossils, which create permanent molds of internal structures. The mineralization process itself helps prevent tissue compaction, which distorts the actual size of organs. A permineralized fossil will also reveal much about the environment an organism lived in and the substances found in it since it preserves soft body parts. This helps researchers investigate the plants, animals, and microbes of different time periods.
Examples of permineralizationedit
Polished section of petrified wood showing annual rings.
^ abGötz, Annette E.; Montenari, Michael; Costin, Gelu (2017). "Silicification and organic matter preservation in the Anisian Muschelkalk: Implications for the basin dynamics of the central European Muschelkalk Sea". Central European Geology. 60 (1): 35–52. Bibcode:2017CEJGl..60...35G. doi:10.1556/24.60.2017.002. ISSN 1788-2281.
^Oehler, John H., & Schopf, J. William (1971). Artificial microfossils: Experimental studies of permineralization of blue-green algae in silica. Science. 174, 1229-1231.
^Wacey, D. et al (2013) Nanoscale analysis of pyritized microfossils reveals differential heterotrophic consumption in the ~1.9-Ga Gunflint chert PNAS 110 (20) 8020-8024 doi:10.1073/pnas.1221965110
^ Raiswell, R. (1997). A geochemical framework for the application of stable sulfur isotopes to fossil pyritization. Journal of the Geological Society 154, 343-356.
December 15, 2023
permineralization, process, fossilization, bones, tissues, which, mineral, deposits, form, internal, casts, organisms, carried, water, these, minerals, fill, spaces, within, organic, tissue, because, nature, casts, permineralization, particularly, useful, stud. Permineralization is a process of fossilization of bones and tissues in which mineral deposits form internal casts of organisms Carried by water these minerals fill the spaces within organic tissue Because of the nature of the casts permineralization is particularly useful in studies of the internal structures of organisms usually of plants 1 Contents 1 Process 1 1 Silicification 1 2 Carbonate mineralization 1 3 Pyritization 2 Scientific implications 3 Examples of permineralization 4 ReferencesProcess editPermineralization a type of fossilization involves deposits of minerals within the cells of organisms Water from the ground lakes or oceans seeps into the pores of organic tissue and forms a crystal cast with deposited minerals Crystals begin to form in the porous cell walls This process continues on the inner surface of the walls until the central cavity of the cell the lumen is completely filled The cell walls themselves remain intact surrounding the crystals 2 need quotation to verify Silicification edit In silicification 3 the weathering of rocks releases silicate minerals and the silica makes its way into a body of still water Eventually the mineral laden water permeates the pores and cells of some dead organism where it becomes a gel Over time the gel will dehydrate forming an opaline crystal structure that is an internal cast of the organism This accounts for the detail found in permineralization Silicification reveals information about what type of environment the organism was likely to have lived in Most fossils that have been silicified are bacteria algae 3 and other plant life Silicification is the most common type of permineralization 4 Carbonate mineralization edit Main article Coal ball nbsp A coal ballCarbonate mineralization involves the formation of coal balls Coal balls are the fossilizations of many different plants and their tissues They often occur in the presence of seawater or acidic peat Coal balls are calcareous permineralizations of peat by calcium and magnesium carbonates Often spherical in shape and ranging from a few grams to several hundred kilograms in mass coal balls are formed when water containing carbonate permeates the cells of an organism This type of fossilization yields information about plant life in the Upper Carboniferous Period 325 to 280 million years ago 5 nbsp Pyritized ammonite of the genus Lytoceras in Holzmaden ShalePyritization edit This method involves the elements sulfur and iron Organisms may become pyritized when they are in marine sediments saturated with iron sulfides Pyrite is iron sulfide As organic matter decays it releases sulfide which reacts with dissolved iron in the surrounding waters Pyrite replaces carbonate shell material due to an undersaturation of carbonate in the surrounding waters Some plants become pyritized when they are in a clay terrain but to a lesser extent than in a marine environment Some pyritized fossils include Precambrian microfossils marine arthropods and plants 6 7 Scientific implications editPermineralized fossils preserve original cell structure which can help scientists study an organism at the cellular level These are three dimensional fossils which create permanent molds of internal structures The mineralization process itself helps prevent tissue compaction which distorts the actual size of organs A permineralized fossil will also reveal much about the environment an organism lived in and the substances found in it since it preserves soft body parts This helps researchers investigate the plants animals and microbes of different time periods Examples of permineralization edit nbsp Polished section of petrified wood showing annual rings Most dinosaur bones are permineralized Petrified wood Permineralization is the first step in petrification In petrification the cellulose cell walls are completely replaced by minerals Some examples of soft bodied pyritization are Beecher s Trilobite Bed Ordovician and the Hunsruck Slate Devonian References edit Mani K 1996 Permineralization Retrieved March 29 2009 from Fossils A window to the past Web site http www ucmp berkeley edu paleo fossils permin html Loren E Babcock Permineralization in AccessScience McGraw Hill http www accessscience com doi 10 1036 1097 8542 803250 a b Gotz Annette E Montenari Michael Costin Gelu 2017 Silicification and organic matter preservation in the Anisian Muschelkalk Implications for the basin dynamics of the central European Muschelkalk Sea Central European Geology 60 1 35 52 Bibcode 2017CEJGl 60 35G doi 10 1556 24 60 2017 002 ISSN 1788 2281 Oehler John H amp Schopf J William 1971 Artificial microfossils Experimental studies of permineralization of blue green algae in silica Science 174 1229 1231 Scott Andrew C Rex G 1985 The formation and significance of Carboniferous coal balls Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 311 1148 123 137 Bibcode 1985RSPTB 311 123S doi 10 1098 rstb 1985 0144 JSTOR 2396976 Wacey D et al 2013 Nanoscale analysis of pyritized microfossils reveals differential heterotrophic consumption in the 1 9 Ga Gunflint chert PNAS 110 20 8020 8024 doi 10 1073 pnas 1221965110 Raiswell R 1997 A geochemical framework for the application of stable sulfur isotopes to fossil pyritization Journal of the Geological Society 154 343 356 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Permineralization amp oldid 1166373848, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
