Classification and Age Estimation of Fossil Shells from Ban Sap Noi Geopark in Thailand, through the Material Characterization Techniques

Abstract

The fossil shells on the sedimentary rocks were collected from The Historical Park, Ban Sap Noi Geopark, Phetchabun Province, Thailand. However, the fossils remained in this area were investigated on the characteristic species only in geological studies with taxonomy for fossil age predicting. To fill up the gap of these studies, the material characterization techniques were used to study the chemical composition and structure of fossil shells I, II and III. The results clearly showed that the morphologies of all fossil shells were Brachiopod fossils with different species. The functional group and elemental composition of all fossil shells showed that the high content of calcium carbonate was a major composition. In addition, the high content of quartz indicated the silica precipitation phenomenon in all fossil shells. The element composition of cross-sectional morphology and energy dispersive spectroscope (EDS mapping) were used to confirm the presence of Si element in each zone of fossil shells. The crystal structures of all fossil shells were investigated and indicated that the calcium carbonate compound was a calcite phase and silicon dioxide compound was a quartz phase. Moreover, the crystal structure of quartz phase was used to calculate the crystallinity index. The crystallinity index values in all fossil shells indicated a well-crystallized quartz. The age of fossil shells was estimated and found to be brachiopod fossil in carboniferous period with the age of about 359.2 to 299.0 million years.

References

[1] SingtuenV, VivitkulN, JunjuerT. Geoeducational Assessments in Khon Kaen National Geopark, Thailand: Implication for Geoconservation and Geotourism Development[J]. Heliyon, 2022, 8(12): e12 464

[2] TabakhME, Utha-AroonC. Evolution of a Permian Carbonate Platform to Siliciclastic Basin: Indochina Plate, Thailand[J]. Sed. Geol., 1998, 121: 97-119

[3] KamvongT, CharusiriP, IntasiopaS. Petrochemical Characteristics of Igneous Rocks from the Wang Pong Area, North-Central Thailand: Implication for Tectonic Setting[J]. Journal of the Geological Society of Thailand, 2006, 1: 9-26

[4] PaungyaN, SingtuenV, Won-InK. The Preliminary Geotourism Study in Phetcahbun Province, Thailand[J]. Geo. J. Tour. Geosites, 2020, 31(3): 1057-1067

[5] YanagidaJ, NakornsriN. Permian Brachiopods from the Khao Hin Kling Area Near Phetchabun, North-Central Thailand[J]. Bull. Kitakyushu Mus. Nat. Hist., 1999, 18: 105-136

[6] AliA, ChiangYW, SantosRM. X-ray Diffraction Techniques for Mineral Characterization: A Review for Engineers of the Fundamentals, Applications, and Research Directions[J]. Minerals, 2022, 12(2): 205

[7] MurataKJ, NormanMB. An Index of Crystallinity for Quartz[J]. Am. J. Sci., 1976, 276(9): 1120-1130

[8] BartsiokasA, MiddletonAP. Characterization and Dating of Recent and Fossil Bone by X-ray Diffraction[J]. J. Archaeol. Sci., 1992, 19(1): 63-72

[9] ElorzaJ, AstibiaH, MurelagaX, et al.. Francolite as a Diagenetic Mineral in Dinosaur and Other Upper Cretaceous Reptile Bones (Laño, Iberian Peninsula): Microstructural, Petrological and Geochemical Features[J]. Cretac. Res., 1999, 20(2): 169-187

[10] RadwanOA, HumphreyJD, Al-RamadanKA. Quartz Crystallinity Index of Arabian Sands and Sandstones[J]. Earth Space Sci., 2021, 8(9): e2020EA001582

[11] KaweeraA, EiamlaorK, JukninW, et al.Report of The Potential Study of Permian Fossil Sites in Tambon Ban Phot, Nong Phai District, Phetchabun Province[R], 2022, Bangkok, Fossil Protection Division, Department of Mineral Resources: 59-67(in Thai)

[12] PeregrinePNLópez VarelaSL. Sampling theory. The Encyclopedia of Archaeological Sciences, 2018, New Jersy, Wiley Blackwell: 1-4[M]

[13] Pérez-HuertaA, ChonglakmaniC, ChitnarinA. Permian Brachiopods from New Localities in Northeast Thailand: Implications for Paleobiogeographic Analysis[J]. J. Asian Earth Sci., 2007, 30(3): 504-517

[14] ShenSZ, ShiGR, ArchboldNW. A Wuchiapingian (Late Permian) Brachiopod Fauna from an Exotic Block in the Indus–Tsangpo Suture Zone, Southern Tibet, and Its Palaeobiogeographical and Tectonic Implications[J]. Palaeontology, 2003, 46(2): 225-256

[15] YousefiradM, TouranK, RahimS. Late Permian Brachiopoda Fauna in North-western Iran[J]. Earth Sci. Res. J., 2013, 17: 67-71

[16] WuHT, HeWH, ZhangY, et al.. Palaeobiogeographic Distribution Patterns and Processes of Neochonetes and Fusichonetes (Brachiopoda) in the Late Palaeozoic and Earliest Mesozoic[J]. Palaeoworld, 2016, 25(4): 508-518

[17] ShenSZ, ShiGR. Diversity and Extinction Patterns of Permian Brachiopoda of South China[J]. Hist. Biol., 1996, 12(2): 93-110

[18] BoonsookK, NaemchantharaP, LimsuwanP, et al.. Development of Eggshell Waste Incorporated with a Porous Host as a Humidity Adsorption Material[J]. J. Wuhan Univ of Tech.-Mater. Sci. Ed., 2023, 38(5): 974-983

[19] ZengH, XieJ, PingH, et al.. Phase Transformation of Amorphous Calcium Carbonate to Single-crystalline Aragonite with Macroscopic Layered Structure in the Presence of Egg white Protein and Zinc Ion[J]. J. Wuhan Univ. of Tech.-Mater. Sci. Ed., 2015, 30(1): 65-70

[20] ChenW, LiuP, WangF, et al.. Mechanical Performance and Micro-structure of Pore Steel Slag Block Prepared by Accelerated Carbonation[J]. J. Wuhan Univ. of Tech.-Mater. Sci. Ed., 2022, 37(3): 475-481

[21] FreirePTC, SilvaJH, Sousa-FilhoFE, et al.. Vibrational Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction Applied to the Study of Cretaceous Fish Fossils from Araripe Basin, Northeast of Brazil[J]. J. Raman Spectrosc., 2014, 45(11–12): 1225-1229

[22] LoftusE, RogersK, Lee-ThorpJ. A Simple Method to Establish Calcite: Aragonite Ratios in Archaeological Mollusc Shells[J]. J. Quat. Sci., 2015, 30(8): 731-735

[23] SaikiaBJ. Spectroscopic Estimation of Geometrical Structure Elucidation in Natural SiO₂ Crystal[J]. J. Mater. Phys. Chem., 2014, 2(2): 28-33

[24] AlencarWJ, SantosFEP, CisnerosJC, et al.. Spectroscopic Analysis and X-ray Diffraction of Trunk Fossils from the Parnaíba Basin, Northeast Brazil[J]. Spectrochim Acta Mol. Biomol. Spectrosc., 2015, 135: 1052-1058

[25] LakshmannaB, JayarajuN, PrasadTL, et al.. Data on Molluscan Shells in Parts of Nellore Coast, Southeast Coast of India[J]. Data Brief, 2018, 16: 705-712

[26] HamesterMRR, BalzerPS, BeckerD. Characterization of Calcium Carbonate Obtained from Oyster and Mussel Shells and Incorporation in Polypropylene[J]. Mater. Res., 2012, 15: 204-208

[27] LaonapakulT, SutthiR, ChaikoolP, et al.. Calcium Phosphate Powders Synthesized from CaCO₃ and CaO of Natural Origin using Mechanical Activation in Different Media Combined with Solid-state Interaction[J]. Mater. Sci. Eng. C Mater. Biol. Appl., 2021, 118: 111 333

[28] SrichanachaichokW, PissuwanD. Micro/Nano Structural Investigation and Characterization of Mussel Shell Waste in Thailand as a Feasible Bioresource of CaO[J]. Materials (Basel), 2023, 16(2): 805

[29] LiesegangM, MilkeR, KranzC, et al.. Silica Nanoparticle Aggregation in Calcite Replacement Reactions[J]. Sci. Rep., 2017, 7(1): 14 550

[30] CrundwellFK. On the Mechanism of the Dissolution of Quartz and Silica in Aqueous Solutions[J]. ACS Omega, 2017, 2(3): 1116-1127

[31] GötzAE, MontenariM, CostinG. Silicification and Organic Matter Preservation in the Anisian Muschelkalk: Implications for the Basin Dynamics of the Central European Muschelkalk Sea[J]. Cent. Eur. Geol., 2017, 60: 35-52

[32] AbbaslouH, AbtahiA, BaghernejadM. Effect of Weathering and Mineralogy on the Distribution of Major and Trace Elements (Hormozgan Province, Southern Iran)[J]. Int. J. for Soil Eros., 2013, 3: 15-25

[33] UlrichRN, GuillermicM, CampbellJ, et al.. Patterns of Element Incorporation in Calcium Carbonate Biominerals Recapitulate Phylogeny for a Diverse Range of Marine Calcifiers[J]. Front Earth Sci., 2021, 9: 641 760

[34] ButtsSH. Silicification[J]. The Paleontological Society Papers, 2014, 20: 15-34

[35] SuryanarayanaC, Grany NortonMX-ray Diffraction a Practical Approach, 1998, New York, Plenum Press: 251-263[M]

[36] RogerLM, GeorgeAD, ShawJ, et al.. Geochemical and Crystallographic Study of Turbo Torquatus (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Southwestern Australia[J]. Geochemistry, Geophys Geosystems, 2018, 19(1): 214-231

[37] Kowalewska-GroszkowskaM, Mierzwa-SzymkowiakD, ZdunekJ. The Crossed-lamellar Structure of Mollusk Shells as Biocomposite Material[J]. Compos. Theory Pract., 2018, 18(2): 71-76

[38] MoxonT. Agate: A Study of Ageing[J]. Eur. J. Mineral, 2002, 14(6): 1109-1118

[39] MarcosC, Uribe-ZoritaM, Alvarez-LloretP, et al.. Quartz Crystallite Size and Moganite Content as Indicators of the Mineralogical Maturity of the Carboniferous Chert: The Case of Cherts from Eastern Asturias (Spain)[J]. Minerals, 2021, 11: 611

[40] ChenZQ, KaihoK, GeorgeAD. Survival Strategies of Brachiopod Faunas from the End-Permian Mass Extinction[J]. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol, 2005, 224(1): 232-269

[41] UshatinskayaGT. Origin and Dispersal of the Earliest Brachiopods[J]. Paleontol J., 2008, 42(8): 776-791

[42] HarperDAT, PopovLE, HolmerLE. Brachiopods: Origin and Early History[J]. Palaeontology, 2017, 60(5): 609-631

[43] YanagidaJ. Permian Brachiopods from Central Thailand: Contributions to the Geology and Palaeontology of Southeast Asia, IX[J]. Mem. Fac. Sci. Kyushu Univ. Ser. D, Geology, 1964, 15(1): 1-22

[44] Department of Mineral Resources129 Year Department of Mineral Resources, 2022, Bangkok, Amarin Printing and Publishing: 86-95[M]

[45] The Phetchabun Provincial Office. Wang Pla and Ban Pod Brachiopod Fossils Beds. Phetchabun Geopark: Geological wonders in Phetchabun, 2018, Bangkok, Aksorn Sampan Press: 76-79[M]

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Wuhan University of Technology and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, Part of Springer Nature