IsaacTheFossilMan Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 So, I'm a bit conflicted. Part of me wants to call my specimen microfossils, yet another calls them macrofossils. Some definitions state the boundary as "being able to see the fossil with the naked eye", other state it as "being able to see the details of the fossil with the naked eye", and yet others state it as "being able to see the fossil with the naked eye or low-powered microscopes". On this forum the prefix "micro" is thrown - for want of a better word - around a lot, even when it disobeys official definitions (which are still incredibly ambiguous!). What do you guys think is the range typically associated with microfossils, and what do we use here? When will the world of palaeontology adopt consistent measurements and definitions across parties!? ps: yes that was a subtle dig at the inch / yard measurements at the end there! ~ Isaac; www.isaactfm.com "Don't move! He can't see us if we don't move!" - Alan Grant Come to the spring that is The Fossil Forum, where the stream of warmth and knowledge never runs dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gristlejaw Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 I always understood it as any fossil 4mm or under. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 I understood it was any small fossil that a microscope is needed to see properly. 1 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 I tink it should be sorta teeny weeny, ya know? 4 Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsaacTheFossilMan Posted September 14, 2021 Author Share Posted September 14, 2021 36 minutes ago, Ludwigia said: I tink it should be sorta teeny weeny, ya know? Sorry @Tidgy's Dad and @gristlejaw - I think I choose this definition over you guys... Can we get a Wikipedia change to this, too? 2 1 ~ Isaac; www.isaactfm.com "Don't move! He can't see us if we don't move!" - Alan Grant Come to the spring that is The Fossil Forum, where the stream of warmth and knowledge never runs dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsaacTheFossilMan Posted September 14, 2021 Author Share Posted September 14, 2021 40 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said: I understood it was any small fossil that a microscope is needed to see properly. This is what I thought, too, but there are so many conflicting definitions. Due to the ambiguity, it's really to the palaeontologist(s) discretion to define their own definition of "micro", which will be consistently used throughout their collection - however, that being said - please use this definition! (joking, of course!) ~ Isaac; www.isaactfm.com "Don't move! He can't see us if we don't move!" - Alan Grant Come to the spring that is The Fossil Forum, where the stream of warmth and knowledge never runs dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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