Zougrou, I.M.; Katsikini, M.; Pinakidou, F.; Papadopoulou, L.; Tsoukala, E.; Paloura, E.C.: Influence of depositional environment in fossil teeth: a micro-XRF and XAFS study. Journal of Physics: Conference Series 499 (2014), p. 012015/1-11
10.1088/1742-6596/499/1/012015
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Abstract:
The formation of metal-rich phases during the fossilization of vertebrate fossil teeth, recovered from various deposition environments in northern Greece, is studied by means of synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) as well as Fe and Mn K edge X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy. XRF line-scans from the samples' cross-sections revealed different contamination paths for Mn and Fe. The two-dimensional XRF maps illustrate the spatial distribution of P, Ca, Mn and Fe as well as the precipitation of Fe-rich phases in cementum, dentin and dentinal tubules. Goethite, lepidocrocite and ferrihydrite were detected in the samples' cross-section by means of Fe K edge EXAFS spectroscopy. Moreover the Fe and Mn K edge EXAFS revealed the presence of vivianite and birnessite (MnO2) on the external surface of two samples.