Reflected Light Microscopy as an Efficient and Costeffective Method for the Detection Of Calcareous Micro-fossils, An Example from the Much Wenlock Limestone Formation, Shropshire, UK

Rogers

Abstract

Ovummuridae are calcareous egg-shaped microfossils of unknown biological affinity. There are limited observations in the literature due to their occurrence only within exceptionally preserved carbonate rocks. The first observation and subsequent erection of the family was via scanning electron microscope imagery; more recently standard light microscopy has been used successfully to observe these microfossils. In this study 124 polished and etched thin sections from various lithofacies from the Much Wenlock Limestone Formation were studied via light microscopy to investigate a population of Ovummuridae. During data collection, it was noted that many specimens were extremely difficult, if not impossible to detect via transmitted light microscopy. However, when observing polished and etched thin sections via reflected light microscopy specimens were conspicuous. This paper introduces reflected light microscopy as a cheap, time efficient method for the observation of Ovummuridae, and explores the wider uses of the technique where other calcareous walled microfossils may have the potential for detection.

Citation

Rogers. (2019). Reflected Light Microscopy as an Efficient and Costeffective Method for the Detection Of Calcareous Micro-fossils, An Example from the Much Wenlock Limestone Formation, Shropshire, UK. https://doi.org/10.21252/fpdf-8j55

• Acceptance Date: Nov 10, 2019
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2019
• Journal: The Student Journal of Natural Sciences
• Print ISSN: 2632-2803
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.21252/fpdf-8j55
• Keywords: Ovummuridae, Wenlock Edge, Wenlock, Reflected Light Microscopy
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.21252/fpdf-8j55