Malone Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Hi wondering if there is a name for this reddish mineral combination that I see frequently in per-mineralized fossils? I found a couple pictures to use as examples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Red color usually comes from iron oxide elements in the matrix. Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Iron oxide = rust = ilmenite. Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Yes, especially the powdery yellow/ orange coating of many triliobite fossils such as those found from the Cambrian and Ordovician of Morocco is limonite. This is an iron oxide-hydroxide and often occurs when the original trilobite body is attacked by bacteria after death, specifically sulfur producing anaerobic bacteria. Iron in the sediments reacts with the sulphur to form iron sulfide and this is set upon by aerobic bacteria causing the oxidation to pyrite. This then "rusts" to form the limonite coating. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malone Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share Posted February 20, 2018 On 2/18/2018 at 8:45 AM, Tidgy's Dad said: Yes, especially the powdery yellow/ orange coating of many triliobite fossils such as those found from the Cambrian and Ordovician of Morocco is limonite. This is an iron oxide-hydroxide and often occurs when the original trilobite body is attacked by bacteria after death, specifically sulfur producing anaerobic bacteria. Iron in the sediments reacts with the sulphur to form iron sulfide and this is set upon by aerobic bacteria causing the oxidation to pyrite. This then "rusts" to form the limonite coating. Thank you! That is very informative! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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