Micropaleontology

PREPARED BY:
T. ENTISSAR AL-BASHEIR ALI MOHAMMED
Overview

In the previous year, you have studied about fossils and fossilisation.
You now know that:
Palaeontology is the science that deals with the study of fossils. And
Fossil is the persevered remains of plants and animals that lived
before 10,000 years and their bodies buried under sediments, such as;
sand and mud under ancient seas, lakes and rivers.
Fossils provide information related to origin and evolution of life on
the Earth and are thus, valuable tools for understanding the history of
the Earth.
Overview

You have also learnt that fossils are of various types, for example,
1. Depending on the preserved part, there are(body, part and trace
fossils).
2. Depending on the preservation method, there are (petrified
fossils, mold and cast fossils, trace fossils, impression fossils,
and pseudo fossils)
3. Depending on Size, there are (Macrofossils, Microfossils, and
Nanofossils).
Overview

MACROFOSSILS Fossils which can be studied with the naked eye

or low-powered magnification, such as a hand lens, are referred to as
macrofossils (Fossils larger than 2 mm). Macrofossils are usually
abundant in the rocks of PHANEROZOIC AGES i.e., from
CAMBRIAN ONWARDS.
MICROFOSSILS are abundant in all sedimentary sequences,
ranging from PRECAMBRIAN to RECENT.
Nanofossils in the range between 5 and 60 μm (micrometer) in size.
Overview

In this Pratical, we will discuss the microfossils in greater detail. We

will discuss specifically about micropalaeontology, microfossils,
major groups of microfossils and their systematic classification,
morphology, and significance. In addition, we will also discuss how
to describe them under microscope.
Expected Learning Outcomes
After studying this unit, you should be able to:
1. Define various part of the microscope
2. Define micropaleontology and microfossils;
3. Classify the microfossils into groups based on wall Composition;
4. Outline the importance of microfossils generally and particularly in
hydrocarbon exploration;
5. Determine the Taxonomy, Classification, Morphology, Environment
and Age of the Mineralized wall microfossil groups (Foraminifera,
Ostracoda), and Organic wall microfossil groups (Pollen grains and
Spores), and Their description under microscope.
 Microscope

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Expected Learning Outcomes
After studying this unit, you should be able to:
1. Define various part of the microscope
2. Define micropaleontology and microfossils;
3. Classify the microfossils into groups based on wall Composition;
4. Outline the importance of microfossils generally and particularly in hydrocarbon
exploration;
5. Determine the Taxonomy, Morphology, Classification, Environment and Age of the
Mineralized wall microfossil groups (Foraminifera, Ostracoda), and Organic wall
microfossil groups (Pollen grains and Spores), and Their description under
microscope.
Micropaleontology and Microfossils

Micropaleontology is the branch of paleontology that studies

microfossils and nanofossils.
• Microfossils are the remains of very small unicellular (single-
celled) and multicellular (multi-celled) microorganisms. These are
usually less than 2 millimetres (mm) in size , the study of which
requires the use of light or electron microscopy.
The smallest microfossils may be only 0.001 mm (i.e., 1 micron) in
size and the largest are in the range from 1 to 2 mm in size.
Micropaleontology and Microfossils

The term MICROFOSSIL is used only because of the microscopic

size of the organisms and they do not represent any particular group.
They belong to various groups of animals, plants and protists.
Their morphology as well as genetic characters are different.
Some facts about microfossils:
1. The oldest known and most familiar fossils, are from cyanobacteria
in Archaean rocks.
2. MICROFOSSILS usually occur in large numbers in many
sedimentary rocks and are the most abundant and most easily
Micropaleontology and Microfossils

accessible fossils.
3. Most are protists – unicellular plants and animals, some are
multicellular.
4. The broken and fragmentary microscopic parts such as shell pieces,
bones, jaws and teeth of macro-organisms are also considered as
microfossils.
5. While the small size is the main criterion for classifying
microfossils, it is important to note that some remains of foraminifers
may be more
Micropaleontology and Microfossils
than 2 mm or about 15 cm in diameter, but they are still referred to be
microfossils. Thus grouping of microfossils in such cases is based on
the method of study where the use of microscope constitutes the
determining criterion.
6. They are found in all ecosystems in water (marine, river, estuarine)
and on land
7. They live in shallow marine, bathyal and abyssal depths.
8. Some are planktic living, while others are benthic (vagile/sessile).
Some have both benthic and planktic phases in their reproduction
9. Their age range from the Precambrian to the Recent
Expected Learning Outcomes
After studying this unit, you should be able to:
1. Define various part of the microscope
2. Define micropaleontology and microfossils;
3. Classify the microfossils into groups based on wall
Composition;
4. Outline the importance of microfossils generally and particularly in
hydrocarbon exploration;
5. Determine the Taxonomy, Morphology, Classification, Environment and Age of the
Mineralized wall microfossil groups (Foraminifera, Ostracoda), and Organic wall
microfossil groups (Pollen grains and Spores), and Their description under
microscope.
MICROFOSSIL GROUPS

Main Microfossil Groups Classified on the basis of wall

Composition into:
1. Mineral-walled microfossils
This group of microfossils includes the remains of those micro-
organisms that have mineralised shells or tests.
The shells of mineral-walled microfossils are commonly made up of
mineral matter such as calcium, silica or phosphate, which makes
shells hard and resistant for external physical and chemical agencies
and thus, possess higher preservation potential as fossils. Accordingly
can be classified to:
MICROFOSSIL GROUPS

A. Calcareous Microfossils
1. Foraminifera (Cambrian to Recent)
2. Calcareous Nannoplanktons (Jurassic to Recent)
3. Ostracodes (Cambrian to Recent)
4. Pteropods (Late Cretaceous to Recent)
5. Calpionellids (Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous)
6. Calcareous Algae (Precambrian to Recent)
7. Bryozoa
MICROFOSSIL GROUPS

B. Siliceous Microfossils
1. Radiolaria (Cambrian to Recent)
2. Marine Diatoms (Late Cretaceous to Recent)
3. Silicoflagellates (Late Cretaceous to Recent) and
Ebridians (Tertiary to Recent)
C. Phosphatic Microfossils
Conodonts and other phosphatic microfossils (Cambrian to
Triassic)
MICROFOSSIL GROUPS
2. Non-mineral (or organic)-walled microfossils, also known as
Palynomorphs:
This group of microfossils includes the remains of those micro-organisms
whose shell wall is made up of hard and tough organic or non mineralized
proteinaceous material.
The shells of such micro-organisms are much resistant to microbial and
chemical attacks as well as to the adverse effects of temperature and
pressure after their burial in sediments.
As a consequence, they get easily fossilised and are very common in
sedimentary rocks.
MICROFOSSIL GROUPS
There are three main types of organic-walled microfossils as
mentioned below:
1. Dinoflagellates (Triassic to Recent), Acritarchs (Precambrian
to Recent) and Tasmanitids (Cambrian to Tertiary)
2. Spores and Pollens in the Marine realm
3. Chitinozoa (Ordovician to Devonian)
Other less abundant forms of organic walled microfossils include
some fungal remains.
Broadly, organic-walled microfossils are termed as palynomorphs.
The study of palynomorphs forms a separate branch of palaeontology,
called palynology.