Utilization of Micro X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (μXRF) in Analyzing Heavy Mineral Sorting Patterns in Biotic and Abiotic Depositional Environments
Abstract
The field of evolutionary geobiology is focused largely on the presence of biosignatures in the geological record. Microbial mat communities have been shown to sort heavy element grains and produce patterns that differ from those seen in cross-laminated sandstones (Gerdes et al., 2000). The difference in spatial distribution patterns of heavy mineral grains may prove to be a viable biosignature. These patterns are studied using Micro X-ray Fluorescent Spectrometry to determine what significance or abundance, if any, exists between the patterns of distribution of heavy mineral grains contained within the two types of formations.
Subject
GeobiologyCitation
Young, Cooper Alec (2018). Utilization of Micro X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (μXRF) in Analyzing Heavy Mineral Sorting Patterns in Biotic and Abiotic Depositional Environments. Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /164398.