Spectroscopic studies on Permian plant fossils in the Pedra de Fogo Formation from the Parnaíba Basin, Brazil Domingas Conceição, João da Silva, Juan Cisneros, Roberto Iannuzzi, Bartolomeu C Viana, Gilberto Saraiva, Joel Sousa, Paulo T Freire The “Pedra de Fogo” Formation dated from the Permian period (approximately 280 million years ago), belongs to the sedimentary Parnaiba Basin, located in the northeastern region of Brazil. It is recognized by their well preserved fossil contents and it is notable for having several fossilized trunks in the growing position. Specimens from different localities were selected in order to perform spectroscopic studies and X-ray diffraction analysis, as well, for the purpose of identifying and characterizing compounds related to the fossilized materials. These different techniques allowed to obtain information from the molecular spectra in organic and inorganic substances, which are present in these above stated fossils and in the atomic elements, as well as the crystalline phases. These aforementioned studies have revealed promising paleoenvironmental interpretations about their depositional strata. Regarding the techniques, these have enabled inferences with respect to the fossil diagenetic events and allowed a better understanding of the fossilized process and the mineralogical characteristics of the living environment, where the plants were buried. This study presents physical and/or chemical properties of the fossilized plants through vibrational spectroscopies, SEM/EDS spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. Based on the results duly obtained, we were able to identify the presence of silica and confirm that the dominant process of the fossilized specimens investigated has occurred through quartz silicification with the contribution of persistence from amorphous carbon. PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 2 Spectroscopic studies on Permian plant fossils in the Pedra de Fogo Formation from the Parnaíba Basin, Brazil 3 4 5 D. M. da Conceição1, J. H. da Silva2, J. C. Cisneros3, R. Iannuzzi4, B. C. Viana5, G. D. 6 Saraiva6, J. P. Sousa7, P.T.C. Freire8* 1 7 8 1Programa 9 Recife – PE, Brazil. Pós-Graduação em Geociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-901, 10 2Campus 11 – CE, Brazil. 12 3Centro 13 Brazil. 14 4Departamento 15 91509-900, Porto Alegre – RS, Brazil. 16 5Departamento 17 6Faculdade 18 CEP 63.900-000, Quixadá – CE, Brazil. 19 7Departamento 20 Fortaleza – CE, Brazil 21 8*Departamento de Juazeiro do Norte – Universidade Federal do Cariri, 63000-000, Juazeiro do Norte de Ciências da Natureza – Universidade Federal do Piauí, 64049-550, Teresina – PI, de Paleontologia e Estratigrafia – Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, de Física, Universidade Federal do Piauí, 64049-550, Teresina – PI, Brazil. de Educação Ciências e Letras do Sertão Central, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, de Geologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará Campus do Pici - Bloco 912 de Física, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60455-970, Fortaleza – CE, Brazil. 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 ABSTRACT 32 PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 33 The “Pedra de Fogo” Formation dated from the Permian period (approximately 280 million years 34 ago), belongs to the sedimentary Parnaiba Basin, located in the northeastern region of Brazil. It is 35 recognized by their well preserved fossil contents and it is notable for having several fossilized 36 trunks in the growing position. Specimens from different localities were selected in order to 37 perform spectroscopic studies and X-ray diffraction analysis, as well, for the purpose of 38 identifying and characterizing compounds related to the fossilized materials. These different 39 techniques allowed to obtain information from the molecular spectra in organic and inorganic 40 substances, which are present in these above stated fossils and in the atomic elements, as well as 41 the 42 paleoenvironmental interpretations about their depositional strata. Regarding the techniques, 43 these have enabled inferences with respect to the fossil diagenetic events and allowed a better 44 understanding of the fossilized process and the mineralogical characteristics of the living 45 environment, where the plants were buried. This study presents physical and/or chemical 46 properties of the fossilized plants through vibrational spectroscopies, SEM/EDS spectroscopy 47 and X-ray diffraction techniques. Based on the results duly obtained, we were able to identify the 48 presence of silica and confirm that the dominant process of the fossilized specimens investigated 49 has occurred through quartz silicification with the contribution of persistence from amorphous 50 carbon. crystalline phases. These aforementioned studies have revealed promising 51 52 Keywords: Vibrational spectroscopies; Fossil plants; Permian Period. 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 1. INTRODUCTION 63 PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 64 The study of fossils allows understanding the complex interactions verified between living 65 organisms and the physical environments in the past. Furthermore, it can provide evidence of 66 the emergence, development and decline of some species. As a consequence, the fossil records 67 reveal the ongoing evolution of life on Earth [1]. Fossils can help to infer the age of the rock 68 strata serving for the reconstruction of the form and position of the continents, during the past 69 ages, as well as to elucidate ancient environments, climate changes and extinction events. Some 70 processes of fossilization can preserve biological structures or features in the organic mark 71 activities during millions of years. 72 73 Sedimentary rocks from the Parnaíba Basin contain preserved fossils from the Paleozoic Age, 74 thus, recording a history of the diversification and extinction of the biota influenced by the 75 movements of the tectonic plates during that geological time, as well as related to geological 76 processes and the supercontinent of the Gondwana changes [2]. 77 78 The study of fossil plants is important, due to the fact that it allows the understanding in the 79 mechanisms of various paleo-ecosystems in the geological history of the Earth, therefore, this 80 furnishes insights about the paleo-climates, since the plants are very sensitive to the climate 81 changes [3]. 82 83 The fossilization of plant remains, as well as those of other lifeforms, consists in the burial of an 84 organism followed by a series of physical, chemical and even biological processes that occur in 85 the sedimentary environment. Physical and chemical agents can continue after a sedimentary 86 rock is formed (diagenesis). The results of all these said agents and/or the interaction of plant 87 remains with the surrounded sediments along the matrix diagenesis, may lead to a fossil 88 formation [3]. The study of the main aspects related to the plant fossilization process is growing 89 in recent years, due to the application through physico-chemical techniques for the fossil 90 characterization. 91 92 The spectroscopic characterization of fossils [4] may contribute to understand the various 93 fossilization mechanisms, conditions and processes that have enabled the preservation of animals 94 and plant remains in the sedimentary Parnaiba Basin. The present study deals with the PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 95 fossilization processes related to the plants from the Paleozoic Era (Permian Period), through 96 various physico-chemical techniques [5]. Various analyses were performed aiming to determine 97 the chemical and composition in the fossilized logs, therefore, inferring the sequence of chemical 98 events and the main mechanisms of the fossilization process that produced the fossils. 99 100 2. EXPERIMENTAL: 101 102 2.1. Samples: 103 104 The four fossils analyzed in the present studies are shown in the optical image in Figure 1. This 105 picture presents four kinds of trunk fossil samples surrounded by their sediments. These samples 106 are characterized as gymnosperm and pteridophyte, which came from the outcrops belonging to 107 the “Pedra de Fogo” Formation in the sedimentary Parnaíba Basin. This particular basin is 108 situated in the northeastern region of Brazil (in the cities of Teresina and Monsenhor Gil, located 109 in the State of Piauí and in the city of Duque Bacelar, located in the State of Maranhão). The 110 sample A corresponds to the fossil of a gymnosperm, collected from the Duque Bacelar 111 municipality. The sample B corresponds to a pteridophyte fossil also collected from the Duque 112 Bacelar area. The sample C belongs to a gymnosperm fossil from the Teresina municipality and 113 finally, the sample D originated from the Monsenhor Gil municipality, corresponds to a 114 pteridophyta fossil specimen. 115 116 2.2. Characterization: 117 118 2.2.1 X-ray diffraction 119 The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns were obtained using a Rigaku powder diffractometer with 120 the Bragg–Brentano geometry. The Co–Kα radiation was used and operated at 40 kV and 25 121 mA. The XRD measurements were taken in the 2θ range of 10–100°, using the step scan 122 procedures (0.02°) in counting times of 5 s. To perform the XRD measurements, we used 1 g of 123 powder samples and for the data treatment, we used the Xpert High score software with the 124 powder diffraction files (PDFs) included. 125 PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 126 2.2.2 Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) 127 The FTIR measurements were performed using a Bruker spectrometer, model Vertex 70. The 128 spectral region analyzed spanned from 400 up to 4000 cm-1. The attenuated total reflectance 129 (ATR) technique was used in the measurements of the sample. 130 131 2.2.3 Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis 132 133 The SEM/EDS analysis were performed using an Hitachi TM-3000 tabletop equipment, 134 increasing up to 30,000 times at 15 kV with an EDS coupled Swifft ED 3000 with a solid state 135 detector. 136 137 2.2.4 Raman spectroscopy 138 Fourier transform (FT)-Raman spectra, were collected with a Bruker RAM II FT-Raman module 139 coupled with the VERTEX FT-IR spectrometer and with a liquid nitrogen cooled in a high- 140 sensitivity Ge detector with the samples excited through the 1064-nm line of an Nd: YAG laser. 141 The resolution was 4 cm-1 with an accumulation of 60 scans per spectra, as well as a nominal 142 laser power of 120 mW. 143 144 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 145 146 3.1. Analytical data 147 148 Figure 2 shows the X-ray diffractograms for the four previously mentioned samples. According 149 to the analysis of the XRD diffractograms (Figure 2), all aforementioned fossilized samples 150 presented quartz as the major crystalline constituent. Such results need to be confirmed and 151 expanded by the infrared and the Raman spectroscopic studies, as the amorphous phase amount 152 which may be in the samples, cannot be detected by the XRD. 153 154 Figure 3 shows the FTIR spectra in the four kinds of fossil trunks (samples A, B, C and D), duly 155 collected from the “Pedra de Fogo” Formation. Regarding the profile in the FTIR spectra of 156 these aforementioned fossils, we observed the presence of SiO2 vibrations associated with the PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 157 quartz [6], confirming the previous results shown by the XRD results. The characteristics of the 158 infrared bands associated with the quartz, are described on Table 2. The bands located at 462 cm- 159 1 160 779, can be assigned as Si – Si stretching and the bands at 1085 and 1164 cm-1, corresponding to 161 the stretching vibration of the Si-O bonds [6,7]. The doublet peaks near 800 cm-1, confirmed the 162 presence of quartz in relation to other polymorphs of silica, such as the cristobalite and the 163 tridymite [8]. This is an important point in certain fossilization processes, as we will discuss 164 below. The quartz is the final product of a long chemical chain having cristobalite and tridymite 165 as intermediate substances. and 517 cm-1, are due to the bending vibrations of the Si-O, whereas the bands observed at 694, 166 167 Figure 4 shows the Raman spectra of the fossils corresponding to the samples A, B, C and D. 168 We also observed two intense bands around 201 cm-1 and 464 cm-1 in the spectrum of sample D, 169 which were assigned, respectively as Si–O stretching/O–Si–O, bending/Si–O torsion and Si – O 170 stretching/–Si–O bending from the quartz compound [9], and yet, in relation to the Raman 171 spectra, three samples (A, B and C) presented the band centered at 201 cm-1 with a low intensity, 172 however, the band at 464 cm-1 remained relatively intense. It is interesting to note that the peaks 173 associated with the quartz have large bandwidths, which were supposed to be related with the 174 distortion of the quartz crystal structures, due to the changes during the process of the 175 fossilization [10]. Furthermore, two other broad bands observed around 1350 and 1600 cm-1 also 176 appeared in the Raman spectra of the three said samples. These are very intense bands and can be 177 associated with the carbon of carbonaceous material present in the fossil (hybridizations sp3 and 178 sp2, respectively). These bands can be assigned as well, respectively as D and G bands 179 corresponding to the amorphous carbon [11]. It is interesting also to note that in a previous study, 180 the bands D and G were observed in the Raman spectrum of a wood fossil collected from the 181 Crato Formation, belonging to the Cretaceous Period, being associated with the amorphous 182 carbon, contained in the sample as well [5]. In the fossil from the “Crato” Formation, the 183 presence of the amorphous carbon and the additional presence of oxygen were interpreted as one 184 possible explanation, being a consequence of the natural fire. Additionally, the presence of 185 carbon was interpreted as originated from the plant remain (cellulose or lignin from the life 186 plant), recently [4]. It is probable that this last interpretation ought to explain the presence of 187 carbon in the fossils duly analyzed in the present study. PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 188 189 Figure 5(a-d) shows the scanning electron microscopy images of the four samples (A – D), 190 previously analyzed by the infrared and Raman spectroscopy and the X-ray diffraction (a 191 complete set of images is given in the Supplementary Materials). The analysis of the EDS 192 spectroscopy for the different points on the sample surfaces, was used to give a semiquantitative 193 determination of the chemical composition. The usage of this technique allowed us to understand 194 that the most of the samples, are not perfectly homogeneous. For instance, in Figure 5(a) from 195 the white region studied, we noted the presence of 39% weight of Si and 49% of oxygen, while 196 in the black region (see the Supplementary Material), the silicon corresponded to 46% and 197 oxygen, 53%. In relation to the sample B in Figure 5(b), it is possible to note a certain 198 homogeneity regarding silicon and oxygen in different parts of the fossil. However, if we look at 199 the concentration of iron, for example, a difference in 3% of weight in different regions of the 200 sample is verified. Regarding the sample C appearing in Figure 5(c), an impressive non- 201 homogeneity was observed: the quantity of silicon varies from 24% to 45% and the quantity of 202 oxygen varies from 53% to 62% of weight. Similarly, the sample D in Figure 5(d) presents 203 silicon varying from 20% to 26% in weight and oxygen varying from 38% to 54%. In addition to 204 this, the sample D analysis showed iron with a weight of 5% in certain parts and up to 35% in 205 other parts. Such non-homogeneity is not a exclusivity of the fossils studied in the present paper, 206 since other studies, e.g. that performed in the plant Brachyphyllum castilhoi from the Cretaceous 207 Period, showing different quantities of pyrite were recorded at different points of the sample 208 [12]. With reference to the four samples of the “Pedra de Fogo” Formation, we noted that the 209 SEM and the EDS techniques allowed us to realize in a clear way the non-homogeneity of the 210 fossils. 211 The analysis of the micromorphological patterns are characterized by the microporous on the 212 surface of the samples. The images (Figure 5), showed the silica occurring primarily as masses 213 corresponding to the microgranular quartz [13]. Additionally, the presence of the chemical 214 elements found in smaller quantities such as aluminum, iron (except for sample D) and 215 potassium, was observed. 216 217 3.2 Fossilization process and silica source: PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 218 219 In the “Pedra de Fogo” Formation, the silica supply involved in the fossilization process of the 220 plant remains, could be interpreted as originated from an external source, comprised of 221 terrigenous alkaline materials present in typical arid climate conditions. This could promote the 222 solubility of the silica and its transference to the deposited areas [14], since the volcanic rocks 223 are particularly a known source of silica [15]. In relation to the quartz found in a previous study, 224 we observed large crystals formats, contained in the fine-grained matrix or glass. In these cases, 225 we found combined crystalline forms, constituted of bipyramidal prisms [16]. 226 227 An important parameter to be considered during the silicification is the pH value, as this can 228 present substantial changes during the process [15]. It is generally accepted that in order to occur 229 silicification of wood, it must be rapidly buried in sediments and staying not exposed to the 230 oxygen, therefore, avoiding in this way, a decomposition by bacteria and fungi. The environment 231 where this occurs is generally a fluvial one with the pH of water varying from 6 to 9; if the 232 ambient is acid, fungi can be developed and if the ambient is exaggeratedly basic, it can destroy 233 the molecules of the wood itself. Ideally, dissolved silica must be found in the environment, 234 which is readily available where volcanic ash was present [13, 17]. It is believed that volcanic 235 ash in glass or amorphous forms absorbs water, thus, releasing silica and producing a solution 236 with monosilicic acid [Si(OH)4]. According to the Ref. [15], when a concentration of the solution 237 increases, the monosilicic acid polymerizes, producing siloxane bonding and releasing water. 238 The pivotal point in the process is that the polymerized silicic acid leads to form hydrogen bonds 239 with organic molecules in the tissue of the wood. As consequence, layers of the silicic acid are 240 formed in the woody tissue. In the process of the polymerization, a coating of silica gel is 241 produced on the cells (or filling voids of the woods). When the gel looses water, it solidifies in 242 the amorphous opal [SiO2.nH2O]. Successive crystallizations and losses of water form the 243 cristobalite, trydimite, chalcedony and finally the quartz. Therefore, an eventual silification 244 process is a complex event extending over many years. 245 246 The spectroscopic analysis used in this study showed a high prevalence of silica levels in all 247 fossil plant samples duly checked. These results corroborate with the study done by Alencar et al 248 [4] with the wood fossils originated from the same geological unit, e.g. “Pedra de Fogo” PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 249 Formation. Therefore, it is possible to infer that the fossilization process that acted on the 250 phytofossil records in the eastern area portion, is the same as the northern area shore of the basin. 251 However, the source of silica present in these stated fossils is still a matter of debate. In the 252 “Pedra de Fogo” Formation, as previously commented, the silica source ought to be external 253 [14]. In addition, Matysová et al. [18] suggested a similar climatic-driven process to explain the 254 silicification of plant stems recovered from the Permian Motuca Formation strata, located in 255 Filadélfia municipality in the northern Tocantins State and in the southwestern Parnaíba Basin. 256 For these authors, the presumed silica source for the initial stage of silicification in this case, was 257 the weathering of labile minerals, mostly feldspars in the alluvium. Thus, they excluded the 258 volcanic influence on the silicification mode in the plant stems from the Motuca Formation and 259 interpreted as a process occurred in fluvial sediments from the basin fills, under a seasonally dry 260 and warm climate, perhaps during a relatively fast tectonic basinal development. 261 262 In the case of phytofossiliferous outcrops present in the northeastern and eastern area portions of 263 the basin, some of them are associated with autochthonous assemblages, i.e., fossil woods in a 264 life position. It is worth noting that in the “Pedra de Fogo” Formation, some trunks in a vertical 265 position reach up to 2.3 meters of length, whereas other trunks in a horizontal position have more 266 than 180 centimeters in diameter. Both instances imply that there was a sizable burial of the 267 paleo flora caused by some catastrophic event. As suggested by Alencar et al. [4], possibly the 268 event which enabled the permineralization of these macrophytofossils, could have been one or 269 more pyroclastic depositional events in the presence of aqueous streams. However, Matysová et 270 al. [18] noted, based on observations in the Australian modern environments that trees from the 271 riparian vegetation, are prone to survive in semiarid climatic conditions, therefore, they are 272 predisposed to be rapidly buried after extreme seasonally river discharges and later silicified. As 273 a consequence, some of the trunks at these said deposits are found not too far from their sites of 274 growth, so these must have also belonged to the original riparian vegetation, being preserved in 275 vertical position. The aforementioned flash fluvial regimes could be easily considered as 276 catastrophic events. Indeed, there is no other source of evidence, besides the abundance of silica 277 over a wide geographic area, which supports the occurrence of contemporary volcanic events 278 during the lifetime of plants studied herein, i.e., during the accumulation of the sedimentary 279 deposits of the “Pedra de Fogo” Formation [14]. PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 280 281 4. CONCLUSIONS 282 283 This study reported the characterization of four fossil trunks by X-ray diffraction measurements, 284 SEM-EDS spectroscopy, as well as Raman and infrared spectroscopy. The samples in reference 285 from the trunk fossils, were obtained from the sedimentary Parnaiba Basin in the Permian “Pedra 286 de Fogo” Formation. These aforesaid results suggest that during the fossilization process, the 287 fossils in question were affected by the environment and also suffered a process of 288 permineralization with a partial substitution of its original composition by quartz. Therefore, the 289 results indicated that all plant remains have undergone a similar diagenetic process, which would 290 be expected if they belong to the same lithostratigraphic unit. The quartz is the most abundant 291 mineral in all the analyzed samples. However, the origin of the significant amount of silica, 292 available in the depositional settings that gave the origin to microcrystalline quartz available in 293 the original depositional settings, is still controvertial. Furthermore, the analysis must be carried 294 out in order to characterize signatures of other materials that are present in a silicified plant stems 295 and also in the surrounding rocky matrixes. Nevertheless, a limited detail study of the fossils and 296 the associated sedimentary deposits, may eventualy clarify the source of the silica and 297 consequently, explaining the way of what initially took place with the fossilization process in the 298 plant remains of the Permian strata from the Parnaíba Basin. 299 300 301 302 Acknowledgments G.D. Saraiva, Ph.D, acknowledges the support from the MCTI/CNPQ/Universal 14/2014 303 (Grants#449471/2014-4) and the PQ – 2014 (Grants#306631/2014-8): R. Iannuzzi thanks CNPq 304 for the grants (PQ 309211/2013-1) and PTCF thanks the CNPq. Acknowledgements are due to 305 Francisco Carlos from the APA dos Morros Garapenses in Duque Bacelar. The authors also wish 306 to thank the following Brazilian institutions, such as CAPES, FAPESPI and FUNCAP. 307 308 309 310 PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 References: 321 [1] Grotzinger J, Jordan T. 2013. Para Entender A Terra-6ª Ed. Editora Saraiva 322 [2] Santos MEC, Carvalho MSS. 2004. Paleontologia das Bacias do Parnaíba, Grajaú e São 323 Luís: Reconstituições Paleobiológicas. Rio de Janeiro: CPRM/ Serviços Geológicos do Brasil 324 [3] Iannuzzi R, Vieira CEL. 2005. Paleobotânica. Porto Alegre, Ed. 5°, UFRGS 325 [4] Alencar WJ, Santos FEP, Cisneros JC, Silva JH, Freire PTC, Viana BC, 2015. 326 Spectroscopic analysis and X-ray diffraction of trunk fossils from the Parnaíba Basin, Northeast 327 Brazil. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 135: 1052-1058 328 [5] Silva JH, Freire PTC, Abagaro BTO, Silva JAF, Saraiva GD, Lima FJ, Barros OA, 329 Bantim RA, Saraiva AAF, Viana BC. 2013. Studies of wood fossils from the Crato Formation, 330 Cretaceous Period. Spectrochimica Acta. Part A, Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 331 (Print) 115: 324-329 332 [6] Lippincott ER, Valkenburg AV, Weir CE, Bunting EN. 1958. , Infrared studies of 333 polymorphs of silicon dioxide and germanium dioxide. J. Res. Natl. Bur. Stand. 61: 61-70 334 335 336 [7] Saikia B, Parthasarathy G, Sarmah N. 2008. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic estimation of crystallinity in SiO2 based rocks. Bull. Mater. Sci. 31: 775–779. © Indian Academy of Science 337 [8] Russell JD, Fraser AR. 1994. Infrared methods. Clay Mineralogy: Spectroscopic and 338 Chemical Determinative Methods. London. Springer Netherlands 11-67 PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 339 340 341 [9] Schmidt C, Ziemann MA. 2000. In-situ Raman spectroscopy of quartz: A pressure sensor for hydrothermal diamond-anvil cell experiments at elevated temperatures. Am. Mineral. 85: 1725–1734 342 [10] Legodi MA, de Waal D. 2007. Raman spectroscopic study of ancient South African 343 domestic clay pottery. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 344 Spectrosc. Acta A 66: 135–142 345 [11] Ferrari AC, Robertson J, 2001. Resonant Raman spectroscopy of disordered, amorphous, 346 and diamondlike carbon. Phys. Rev. B 64: 75414- 75423. 347 [12] Sousa Filho FE, Silva JH, Saraiva AAF, Brito DDS, Viana BC, Abagaro BTO, Freire 348 PTC. 2011. Combination of Raman, Infrared, and X-Ray Energy-Dispersion Spectroscopies and 349 X-Ray Diffraction to Study a Fossilization Process. Braz. J. Phys. 41: 275–280 350 [13] Landmesser M. 1984. Das problem der achatgenese. Mitt. Pollichia 72: 5-137. 351 [14] Faria JR. 1979. Estudo Sedimentológico da Formação Pedra de Fogo – Permiano da Bacia 352 do Maranhão. Dissertação de Mestrado 70f. Universidade Federal do Pará 353 [15] Leo RF, Barghoon ES. 1976. Silicification of wood, Botanical Museum leaflets, Harvard 354 University 25: 1-49 355 [16] Tröger EW. 1979. Optical determination of rock-forming minerals. Part 1, determination 356 tables. E. Content Free Trial, Stuttgart, Germany, 188 p. 357 [17] Landmesser M. 1994. Versteinertes Holz. ExtraLapis 7: 1-174 358 [18] Matysová P, Rössler R, Götze J, Leichmann J, Forbes G, Taylor EL, Sakala J, Grygar 359 T. 2010. Alluvial and volcanic pathways to silicified plant stems (Upper Carboniferous–Triassic) 360 and their taphonomic and palaeoenvironmental meaning. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, 361 Palaeoecology, 292: 127-143. 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 Caption for the figures: 380 381 Figura 1: Optical images of the fossil samples. A: The gymnorsperm from the Duque Bacelar 382 municipality; B: pteridophyte from the Duque Bacelar municipality; C: The gymnosperm from 383 the city of Teresina; D: the pteridophyte from the Monsenhor Gil municipality. 384 385 Figure 2: X-ray diffractograms of the samples A (in black), B (in red), C (in blue) and D (in 386 green) shows the crystalline phase in the samples. 387 388 Figure 3: Infrared spectra of the fossilized logs in the spectral range from 400 – 1400 cm-1: A (in 389 black), B (in red), C (in blue) and D (in green). 390 391 Figure 4: Raman spectra of the fossils A, B, C and D for the spectral ranges (a) from 150 to 700 392 cm-1 and (b) from 950 to 1650 cm-1. The identification of the four fossils in reference, are given 393 on Table 2. 394 395 Figure 5: The SEM images of the following four trunk fossil samples: a) fossil A, b) fossil B, c) 396 fossil C, d) fossil D (shown on the text), which demonstrated the locations where the EDS 397 spectra were performed. 398 399 400 PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 401 PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 Figure 1(on next page) Figure-1 Optical images of the fossil samples. A: The gymnorsperm from the Duque Bacelar municipality; B: pteridophyte from the Duque Bacelar municipality; C: The gymnosperm from the city of Teresina; D: the pteridophyte from the Monsenhor Gil municipality. PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 Figure 2(on next page) Figure-2 X-ray diffractograms of the samples A (in black), B (in red), C (in blue) and D (in green) shows the crystalline phase in the samples. PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 Figure 3(on next page) Figure-3 Infrared spectra of the fossilized logs in the spectral range from 400 – 1400 cm-1: A (in black), B (in red), C (in blue) and D (in green). PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 Figure 4(on next page) Figure-4 Raman spectra of the fossils A, B, C and D for the spectral ranges (a) from 150 to 700 cm-1 and (b) from 950 to 1650 cm-1. The identification of the four fossils in reference, are given on Table 2. PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 Figure 5(on next page) Figure-5 The SEM images of the following four trunk fossil samples: a) fossil A, b) fossil B, c) fossil C, d) fossil D (shown on the text), which demonstrated the locations where the EDS spectra were performed. PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 Table 1(on next page) Table 1 Table 1: The identification of the four log fossils with the taxonomy and the location where these samples were collected. PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 1 2 3 Table 1: The identification of the four log fossils with the taxonomy and the location where these samples were collected. 4 Samples 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 A Taxonomic identification Gymnosperm B Pteridophyte C Gymnosperm D Pteridophyte Locations APA of the Morros Garapenses, Duque Bacelar, MA Geographical Coordinates: 4°10'1.28"S 42°58'52.41"O APA of the Morros Garapenses, Duque Bacelar, MA 4°10'1.28"S 42°58'52.41"O The fossil florest of the river Poti, Teresina, PI Geographical Coordinates: 5° 6'51.42"S 42°43'48.24"O The Monsenhor Gil, PI Geographical Coordinates: 5°36'56.45"S 42°30'20.48"O Geological unity and Period Pedra de Fogo Formation, Permian Pedra de Fogo Formation, Permian Pedra de Fogo Formation, Permian Pedra de Fogo Formation, Permian MA = Maranhão State; PI = Piauí State 12 PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 Table 2(on next page) Table 2 The infrared and Raman modes assignments of the four fossils samples. PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 1 Table 2: The infrared and Raman modes assignments of the four fossils samples IR modes Samples A B C D Assignment* Wavenumber(cm-1) Sample Wavenumber(cm-1) 2 461 520 694 778 797 1087 1164 A 464 1347 1575 - 462 455 502 518 694 694 779 778 797 797 1087 1085 1164 1164 Raman modes B C 464 464 1356 1577 1595 1604 462 517 694 778 797 1087 1164 Si-O bending Si-O bending Si stretching Si stretching Si stretching Si-O stretching Si-O stretching D 462 - Assignment** Quartzo Carbono Carbono Carbono *[6, 7] **[11-20] 3 PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1547v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015
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