A novel method to assess the effect of diagenesis on fossil teeth: Rare earth element signatures

作者：Wen Xingyue; Wang Chengshan; Huang Chengmin^*; Bai Song; Zhang Qing

来源：Journal of Rare Earths, 2011, 29(7): 710-715.

DOI：10.1016/S1002-0721(10)60527-3

• fossil teeth
• sediment
• REE
• diagenesis
• Jinsha Relics

An attempt was made to test the validity of the signatures of rare earth elements (REE) as a tool to judge the effect of diagenesis on fossil teeth. Sample REE contents and features of fossil teeth and sediments from Jinsha Relics, Sichuan, Southwest China were analyzed. The difference in REE content between fossil teeth is significantly greater than that between sediments at the Jinsha Relics. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns showed that obvious LREE enrichment and strong Ce and HREE depletion occurred in all fossil teeth samples. Meanwhile delta Ce and delta Eu values varied more dramatically in fossil teeth than in sediments. Accordingly, low content, LREE enrichment, strong Ce depletion, the significantly positive correlation between LREE/HREE and delta Ce, and unchanged (La/Yb)(N) demonstrated that the fossil teeth from Jinsha Relics have not been contaminated by diagenesis. The REE signature might be a potential proxy to assess the effect of diagenesis on fossil teeth.

• 出版日期2011-7
• 单位西南民族大学; 中国地质大学（北京）; 四川大学; 绵阳师范学院