Author Archives: paleololigo

Scientist (Paleontology, Geochemistry, Geology); Writer (Speculative and Science Fiction, plus technical and non-technical Science); Mom to great boy on the Autism spectrum; possessor of too many hobbies.

Infrared Light and the Quality of Fossil Preservation – #365papers – 2018 – 62

Beasley, Bartelink, Taylor, and Miller, 2014, Comparison of transmission FTIR, ATR, and DRIFT spectra: implications for assessment of bone bioapatite diagenesis: Journal of ARchaeological Science, v. 46, p. 16-22.

What’s it about?

One of the challenges of studying the chemistry of fossil bones and teeth is being confident that the chemistry of the fossils is unaltered from its original state (that is, the bones and teeth still faithfully record the chemistry of the living animal they came from). During the process of fossilization, the mineral and chemical structure of bones and teeth are altered from what they were in life, a process called diagenesis.Continue reading “Infrared Light and the Quality of Fossil Preservation – #365papers – 2018 – 62”

Long Distance Prospecting – #365papers – 2018 – 61

Conroy, Emerson, Anemone, and Townsend, 2012, Let your fingers do the walking: A simple spectral signature model for “remote” fossil prospecting: Journal of Human Evolution, v. 63, p. 79-84.

What’s it about?

The authors demonstrate the utility of satellite imagery combined with surface observations and GIS software to make predictions about where fossil localities may be located. Continue reading “Long Distance Prospecting – #365papers – 2018 – 61”

A Hot One – #Paleontology Field Work 2018 – Day 12

Today’s plan was developed with the day’s forecast in mind: ridiculously hot and sunny (but a dry heat, right?).

We started in the morning at a locality we hadn’t been to before and spent two hours finding nothing (in the way of fossils), until we stumbled upon this lovely fossil horse.

I promise, it’s a horse. An ancestor of modern horses, anyway.
Continue reading “A Hot One – #Paleontology Field Work 2018 – Day 12”

The Search for Soil – #Paleontology Field Work 2018 – Day 12

This morning was spent looking for fossil soils low in the Uinta Formation. No shock, but we didn’t find any.

We did, however find a creepy scarecrow of sorts…

This scared the crap out of me when I first saw it.

Continue reading “The Search for Soil – #Paleontology Field Work 2018 – Day 12”

Everyone Loves a Parade – #Paleontology Field Work 2018 – Day 11

Today was our weekly “town” day, which means we got showers last night and the day today to re-stock for another week in the field.

It was also coincidentally the 4th of July, which is kind of a big deal in the United States.

There was a parade. Here are some highlights:Continue reading “Everyone Loves a Parade – #Paleontology Field Work 2018 – Day 11”

On FIRE! – #Paleontology Field Work 2018 – Days 9 and 10

One challenge of doing field work in the high desert is the risk of fire, and this is what we have right now.

The Dollar Ridge Fire started two days ago, unbeknownst to us, about 80 miles from our field area. Late last night, we noticed the smell of smoke in camp.

Smoky sunset

Continue reading “On FIRE! – #Paleontology Field Work 2018 – Days 9 and 10”