Putative fossil blood cells reinterpreted as diagenetic structures

Red to red-orange spheres in the vascular canals of fossil bone thin sections have been repeatedly reported using light microscopy. Some of these have been interpreted as the fossilized remains of blood cells or, alternatively, pyrite framboids. Here, we assess claims of blood cell preservation within bones of the therizinosauroid theropod Beipiaosaurus inexpectus from the Jehol Lagerstätte. Using Raman spectroscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry, and Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy, we found evidence of high taphonomic alteration of the bone. We also found that the vascular canals in the bone, once purported to contain fossil red blood cell, are filled with a mix of clay minerals and carbonaceous compounds. The spheres could not be analyzed in isolation, but we did not find any evidence of pyrite or heme compounds in the vessels, surrounding bone, or matrix. However, we did observe similar spheres under light microscopy in petrified wood found in proximity to the dinosaur. Consequently, we conclude that the red spheres are most likely diagenetic structures replicated by the clay minerals present throughout the vascular canals.

A preliminary study on the element abundance in the Hulusimpang Formation, Way Kalianda, Pesawaran, Lampung, Indonesia

Hulusimpang Formation.has known as Oligocene-Miocene rocks that consisted of volcanoclastic rock. Its scope was wide, especially in southern Sumatra. This formation is supposed as a prospect host of various hydrothermal mineralization. A preliminary study was carried out to examine the abundance of elements located in Way Kalianda River, Pesawaran, Lampung. This study was conducted by easuring its stratigraphy and analyzing its composition using an X-Ray fluorescence analyzer. The lithologies generally consist of lapilli tuffs, volcanic breccias, interbeded by claystone and sandstone; in addition, it is also frequently found petrified wood and andesitic-lithic fragments. As a result, the significant abundant elements are Fe (35.5%), Si (27.9%), Al (17.4%), K (6.7%), Cl (5.5%), Ti (1.7%), and Ca (1.5%) and also Mn, Ag, P, Mg, Sr, Zr, and Co. It also presents trace elements such as Rb, Zn, Pb, Te, V, Ba, Cr, Sn, Ni, Ga, Nb, Mo, and Eu. These elements are suggested from distal facies of intermediates-magma series Tertiary volcano.

Anatomical characteristics of fossil wood collected from the Manchar Formation (Miocene), Thano Bula Khan, Sindh, Pakistan

The characterization of petrified wood provides valuable information about paleoclimatology and geological history and helps to reconstruct the past forest flora of different parts of the earth. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the anatomical characteristics of fossil wood of the Miocene age collected from the Manchar Formation exposed at Thano Bula Khan, Sindh, Pakistan. In order to carry out a detailed anatomical investigation, three-dimensional sections were prepared using a petrotome. The microscopic analysis allowed us to study vessel size and arrangement, wood parenchyma, fibers, and xylem rays. Based on the comparison between recent and fossil wood, we concluded that the investigated characters are comparable with those of the genus Atalantia Corrêa of the Rutaceae family. Therefore, it was named as Atalantioxylon thanobolensis sp. nov. with reference to the location of Thano Bula Khan from which the fossil wood was collected.

New Archaeological Discoveries in The Geological Formations and Heritages along the Ba River Ancient Valley

In dry season of 2019, a series of new mix-heritages containing both of natural/geological and prehistoric archaeological values were discovered along the Ba river ancient valley by the field survey team of the project TN17/T06. The archaeological relics were uncovered right in the geological heritage sites such as: waterfalls, fossil sites, ancient terraces, and low mountain slopes along the Ba river ancient valley, which belong to eluvial, deluvial, proluvial and alluvial formations of Pleistocene age. Hundreds of stone tools, including dozens of petrified wood tools were collected, such as: uni-facial and bi-facial tools, end-chooper, side-chopper, scraper, spearhead tool, flake and core tools, etc. The materials of the tools were made of quartz, quartzite, siliceous stone, opal-chalcedony, petrified wood and basalt, which were recognized as geological heritages (A type: Paleontology; D type: Rock; F type: Minerals, according to the classification in the Circular 50/2017-TT-BTNMT of MONRE) of the heritage region. The collected artifacts characterise technique and geometric shape types of Paleolithic age. The archaeological discoveried sites were highly evaluated by Vietnamese and foreign archaeologists because they play a great important role in studying Paleolithic stage in Gia Lai province and The Central Highlands particularly, and in Vietnam and Southeast Asia generally. Besides, they have increased comprihensive heritage values of the region, as well as provided double invaluable resources (both natural and cultural heritage) for tourism exploitation and socio-economic sustainable development.

Uranium Mineralization of Fossil Wood

Uraniferous sandstone deposits commonly resulted when uranium in groundwater precipitated in reducing environments caused by degradation of ancient wood and organic debris. However, the mineralogy of uranium in fossil wood has received relatively little study. Previous microscopic observations of petrified wood from a few uranium mines have demonstrated that uranium in fossil wood primarily involves the oxide mineral uraninite or the silicate mineral coffinite, often in association with metal sulfides such as chalcopyrite. These observations are applicable to primary ore zones that are located below the water table, where oxidation is inhibited. New analyses utilizing scanning electron microscopy and X-ray fluorescence (SEM/EDS) reveal that fossil wood from oxidized ore zones may contain a diverse variety of uranium minerals, including carnotite, tyuyamunite, and zippeite, as well as various vanadate and sulfate minerals. Uranium-bearing common opalized wood and stratiform common opal from two prospects in Nevada, USA, contain no identifiable uranium minerals. Instead, the element is dispersed in trace amounts within the opal.