Minor Elements in Fossil Bone

Research Article| March 01, 1970 Minor Elements in Fossil Bone RONALD B PARKER; RONALD B PARKER Department of Geology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82070 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar HEINRICH TOOTS HEINRICH TOOTS Department of Geology-Geography, C. W. Post College, Greenvale, New York 11548 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information RONALD B PARKER Department of Geology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82070 HEINRICH TOOTS Department of Geology-Geography, C. W. Post College, Greenvale, New York 11548 Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 01 Apr 1969 Revision Received: 13 Aug 1969 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1970, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1970) 81 (3): 925–932. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1970)81[925:MEIFB]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 01 Apr 1969 Revision Received: 13 Aug 1969 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation RONALD B PARKER, HEINRICH TOOTS; Minor Elements in Fossil Bone. GSA Bulletin 1970;; 81 (3): 925–932. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1970)81[925:MEIFB]2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Electron microprobe analysis was used to determine the specific sites at which minor elements are concentrated in fossil bone. In conjunction with data on bulk composition, this has permitted dividing the minor elements into three groups. Sodium and strontium are incorporated into the apatite crystal structure mainly during the life of the animal. Fluorine and yttrium also enter the apatite structure, but their presence is due to postmortal enrichment and is controlled mainly by availability of the element, and time, and, to a lesser degree, environmental conditions. Silicon, manganese, and iron are present in the form of separate minerals filling voids of all sizes in the bone structure. Their addition is clearly postmortal and reflects the diagenetic environment. Arsenic, barium, lead, thorium, uranium, and various rare earth elements have also been detected in fossil bones, but their specific location and time of incorporation into the bone have not been determined. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.