| Title | Evaluation and optimization of acid processing procedures for the extraction of conodont elements from calcareous rock |
| Download | Downloads |
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| Licence | Please note the adoption of the Open Government Licence - Canada
supersedes any previous licences. |
| Author | Gallotta, C; Gouwy, S A ; Komaromi, L |
| Source | Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 8792, 2021, 50 pages, https://doi.org/10.4095/328273  Open Access |
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| Year | 2021 |
| Publisher | Natural Resources Canada |
| Document | open file |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Subjects | paleontology; Science and Technology; Nature and Environment; micropaleontology; microfossils; conodonts; sample preparation; bedrock geology; lithology; sedimentary rocks; carbonates; Methodology;
Costs; Time |
| Illustrations | tables; plots; bar graphs; photomicrographs |
| Program | GEM2: Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals GEM Synthesis |
| Released | 2021 05 20 |
| Abstract | The purpose of this study was to identify alternative methods which would improve current conodont processing times and cost at the GSC-Calgary paleontology lab. Conodont processing consists of several
stages, most of which are completed within a single day. Acid digestion, however, is the longest processing stage and is also conveniently the most variable in terms of processing techniques. Therefore, this is where this study seeks to improve. The
current sample digestion technique utilizes an acetic acid solution which take a notably long time to completely process samples therefore, investigation into quicker techniques commonly used in other labs utilizing formic acid were explored. Formic
acid processing improved digestion time to 3 days compared to acetic acid processing's maximum of 56 days. Processing cost results favored acetic acid which totaled $126.41 for full processing of 2.5kg samples, compared to formic processing cost of
$101.73 for 1.0kg of sample which theoretically totals $127.99 per 2.5kg of sample. Lab productivity significantly improved using formic acid, capable of producing 350 samples per year opposed to 195 samples processed via acetic acid. Observing
extracted specimen under a scanning electron microscope showed no difference between the processing methods. Both methods could produce pristine sample quality which was completely indistinguishable. Based on these findings, the formic acid
processing method can be used as a viable technique for the extraction of conodonts from calcareous rock and should be offered as a fast-track, but slightly more expensive alternative for sample processing. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
This report gives the results of a comparative analysis of processing methods for phosphatic microfossils from calcareous rocks. The goal was to optimize
the methods used in the GSC-Calgary lab for costs, quality of the released microfossils, duration of the processing and productivity of the lab, all to make the conodont lab more efficient. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 328273 |
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