Red Devonian trilobites with green eyes from Morocco and the silicification of the trilobite exoskeleton

Klug C, Schulz H, de Baets K (2009)

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2009

Journal

Acta Palaeontologica Polonica Polska Akademia Nauk, Instytut Paleobiologi (Polish Academy of Sciences, Institue of Paleobiology)

Publisher: Polska Akademia Nauk, Instytut Paleobiologi (Polish Academy of Sciences, Institue of Paleobiology)

Book Volume: 54

Pages Range: 117-123

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.4202/app.2009.0112

Open Access Link: https://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app54/app54-117.pdf

Abstract

Latest Emsian (Early Devonian) sediments at the famous mud-mound- and trilobite-locality Hamar Laghdad (Tafilalt, Morocco) yielded some red-coloured remains of phacopid trilobites. Closer examination revealed that the eyes of these phacopids are often greenish in colour. EDX-analyses showed that the lenses retained their original calcitic composition, possibly greenish due to Fe- and Mn-impurities, while most of the exoskeleton was silicified. The silicified parts contain elevated concentrations of iron which causes the red colour. This phenomenon is explained by the porosity of the exoskeleton in contrast to the homogeneous and massive construction of the lenses and their Mg-content. These incompletely silicified trilobites enabled a reconstruction of the silicification process in trilobites. Their diagenetic alteration probably occurred as a result of events associated with the Cretaceous transgression.

Authors with CRIS profile

Kenneth de Baets Lehrstuhl für Paläoumwelt

Involved external institutions

University of Zurich / Universität Zürich (UZH) CH Switzerland (CH) Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Klug, C., Schulz, H., & de Baets, K. (2009). Red Devonian trilobites with green eyes from Morocco and the silicification of the trilobite exoskeleton. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 54(1), 117-123. https://doi.org/10.4202/app.2009.0112

MLA:

Klug, Christian, Hartmut Schulz, and Kenneth de Baets. "Red Devonian trilobites with green eyes from Morocco and the silicification of the trilobite exoskeleton." Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 54.1 (2009): 117-123.

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