Geochemische Untersuchungen an phosphatischen Fossilien und Vergleich mit entsprechenden rezenten Meeresorganismen

Phosphatic fossils from the lower Cenomanian have been studied for mineralogy and trace-element content. The values obtained for the fossils are compared with the concentrations in surrounding limestone and ash of Recent marine animals.Calcinated Recent animals yield alkali phosphates, zinc and strontium; rare earths are lacking. Presence of rare earths in fossils suggests that they were obtained during diagenesis. Their distribution in fossils fluctuates strongly even among specimens of the same species.