Vertebrate Fossil Permineralization in a Sequence Stratigraphic Context: Capsules of Early Diagenesis from Shallow-marine Siliciclastics (Eocene, Egypt)

Vertebrate fossil bones from Wadi Al-Hitan, Egypt, act as 'time-capsules' of early diagenetic conditions, preserving authigenic minerals and microtaphonomic features linked to their original Eocene depositional context. Analysis using µXRF and petrography revealed distinct preservation patterns based on stratigraphic position: bones along sequence boundaries show Fe-oxide linings and evidence of desiccation, while those from systems tracts exhibit calcite microfacies consistent with subaqueous deposition. This study highlights the sensitivity of fossil preservation to post-mortem environmental conditions, offering new insights into the taphonomic processes that shape the fossil record.

LAKER, R. M. (2024). VERTEBRATE FOSSIL PERMINERALIZATION IN A SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC CONTEXT: CAPSULES OF EARLY DIAGENESIS FROM SHALLOW-MARINE SILICICLASTICS (EOCENE, EGYPT). Palaios, 39(8), 243–263. https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2023.044