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Platy Quartz Phytoliths found in the Fossil Forest Deposits, Axel Heiberg Island, Northwest Territories, Canada
Author(s) -
Kodama Hideomi,
Fox Catherine A.,
Tarnocai Charles,
Longstaffe Frederick J.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
zeitschrift für pflanzenernährung und bodenkunde
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 0044-3263
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.19921550509
Subject(s) - platy , quartz , geology , mineralogy , geochemistry , paleontology , materials science , composite material
The occurrence of quartz particles having a platy morphology found in the white layers within the fossil forest deposits of Axel Heiberg Island, was further confirmed by optical and electron microscopic examinations. The platy quartz crystals were concentrated in the finer fractions. The δ 18 O values of fractions enriched in platy quartz crystals ranged from +13.7 to +16.6 % 0 . These values were higher than those obtained for coarser fractions. The platy morphology and crystallographic character of the quartz particles concentrated in the finer size fractions are uncharacteristic both of aerosol derived material and of secondary silica. These findings and information available for the paleoenvironment of the study area favor a biogenic origin for the platy quartz. The oxygen‐isotope data are consistent with this hypothesis.