Abstract

JEREZ-JAIMES, Javier H.; GARCIA-GOMEZ, Silvia Elizabeth  and  CRUZ-GUEVARA, Luis Enrique. ¿FOSSIL BONE OR SIMPLE ROCK? SPECTROSCOPY FTIR AND CRITERIA TO FOSSILIZED BONE STRUCTURES IDENTIFICATION. bol.geol. [online]. 2012, vol.34, n.1, pp.67-80. ISSN 0120-0283.

Fossil record of marine vertebrates is very important to the reconstruction of systematic phylogenies, evolutionary and ecological studies, for this reason, any taphonomic element must be analyzed with quick and simple technical before it is discarded. In this study, was evaluated the biological origin of a similar structure to the vertebrae with Infrared spectroscopy analysis FTIR. The structure was collected in the Paja Formation (Cretaceous: Aptian) of the municipality of La Mesa de los Santos (Santander, Colombia). Samples of the outer layer and the filling matrix were extracted using a microdrill. Along cow's bone (Bos taurus) was used as a control sample to determine the spectrum of calcium phosphate. FTIR spectra allowed identification of differences in the composition of the outer layer and the internal structure of the specimen. A response was found in the absorption ranges to calcium phosphate in the outer layer. The internal layer showed a greater composition of calcium carbonate. The FTIR technique allowed the recognition of calcium phosphate in this taphonomic entity. Current paleontological criteria determine that the morphology and the spectra IR not support the recognition of this element like fossil ossified structure due to the absence of the characteristic microstructure.

Keywords : Aptian; Marine Reptile; Pseudofossil; Paja Formation.

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