ナウマンゾウ臼歯のエナメル質における変質作用

概要

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In this study, the writer observed the diagenetic alteration of the enamel of the fossil molar teeth of Naumann's elephant (Palaeoloxodon naumanni (MAKIYAMA)) for its internal textures and the distribution of some elements. For these purposes, the methods of the optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and electron probe X-ray microanalysis were used. The enamel of the samples is opaquely whitened in the outer part (the side of the cementenamel junction) but more clear in the inner part (the side of the dentinoenamel junction) by the naked eye. In thin section, such whitened parts are visible as a opaque dark zone. This tendency is well similar to the case of the fossil hard tissues of the molluscan shells and the scleractinian corals. By the scanning electron microscopy, it is observed that the original shapes of the enamel prisms are scarsely recognized and are very porous in the dark zone mentioned above. In the inner clear part, the transverse sections of the enamel prisms are generally shaped like a ginkgo-leaf. The crystallites composing the prisms are not so sharp and slightly porous. Elemental distribution of Ca and others are measured in relation to the histological observations with the electron probe X-ray microanalyzer.
地学団体研究会の論文
1981-07-25