They discover how one of the most mysterious fossils formed

“Most of life does not turn into a fossil,” he said. Alison Olcott, Associate Professor of Geology and Director of the Undergraduate Research Center at University of Kansas After discovering how one of the most mysterious fossils was formed.

“It’s hard to become a fossil. You have to die under very specific circumstances, and one of the easiest ways to become a fossil is to have hard parts like bones, horns, and teeth.” The record of terrestrial life is soft-bodied, like spiders, incompleteOlcott said.

How was one of the most mysterious fossils formed

Spider fossil discovery Thanks to the decision of examining the fossil under a fluorescent microscope. This type of observation is not part of the standard protocol for examining fossils, but the research team believes it may help them discern more details about the fossilized spiders, which have blended in with the surrounding rocks.

Various elements in the rock It absorbs ultraviolet light energy in a microscope and re-emits light of different wavelengths. Not all geological samples have fluorescence and luster, said the geologist, but when they are, they can be amazing and yield a lot of information.

Microscopic aquatic algae revealed by fluorescence microscopy are known as diatom fossils.When they are alive, they secrete sulfur-rich substances that form algae mats. “These microalgae make up the sticky, sticky mass, which is why it sticks together,” he said.

This mass would have covered the petrified spider, which promotes a process called sulfation, which stabilizes and maintains spiders’ bodies. This discovery could help geologists identify others Fossils in other parts of the world, such as those found in southern France, in Aix-en-Provence, dated to 22.5 million years ago..