Rapid encapsulation of true ferns and arborane/fernane compounds fossilised in siderite concretions supports analytical distinction of plant fossils
Fossilised true ferns (Pecopteris sp.) preserved in siderite concretions from the Mazon Creek Lagerstätte (Illinois) presented a unique opportunity to characterise the organic signatures of these late Carboniferous plants. Localised analyses of true fern fossils showed several highly abundant phytoh...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2023
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FL210100103 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/96134 |
| _version_ | 1848766098408734720 |
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| author | Tripp, Madison Schwark, Lorenz Brocks, J.J. Mayer, P. Whiteside, J.H. Rickard, William Greenwood, Paul Grice, Kliti |
| author_facet | Tripp, Madison Schwark, Lorenz Brocks, J.J. Mayer, P. Whiteside, J.H. Rickard, William Greenwood, Paul Grice, Kliti |
| author_sort | Tripp, Madison |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Fossilised true ferns (Pecopteris sp.) preserved in siderite concretions from the Mazon Creek Lagerstätte (Illinois) presented a unique opportunity to characterise the organic signatures of these late Carboniferous plants. Localised analyses of true fern fossils showed several highly abundant phytohopanoids and fernane/arborane derived aromatic products, which were present only negligibly within their siderite matrix, as well as from other types of fossilised plants. These terpenoids had been recognised in some extant ferns, but scarcely in sedimentary organic matter and their exact source remained ambiguous. The present fossil biomarker data confirms an ancient true fern origin. Furthermore, the excellent concretion preservation of a series of related terpenoid products provided a rare insight into their diagenetic formation. The benign properties of carbonate concretions could be exploited further for biomarker evidence of other fossilised organisms, with one important caveat being that biomarker signals attributed to isolated fossils be significantly distinct from background organic matter pervading the concretion matrix. For instance, hydrocarbon profiles of seed ferns (pteridosperms) and articulates (horsetails) also preserved in Mazon Creek concretions were indistinguishable from separate analysis of their concretion matrix, preventing biomarker recognition. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:45:45Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-96134 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:45:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-961342024-11-07T01:18:01Z Rapid encapsulation of true ferns and arborane/fernane compounds fossilised in siderite concretions supports analytical distinction of plant fossils Tripp, Madison Schwark, Lorenz Brocks, J.J. Mayer, P. Whiteside, J.H. Rickard, William Greenwood, Paul Grice, Kliti Fossils Ferns Plants Carbonates Biomarkers Pentacyclic Triterpenes Plants Ferns Carbonates Fossils Pentacyclic Triterpenes Biomarkers Fossilised true ferns (Pecopteris sp.) preserved in siderite concretions from the Mazon Creek Lagerstätte (Illinois) presented a unique opportunity to characterise the organic signatures of these late Carboniferous plants. Localised analyses of true fern fossils showed several highly abundant phytohopanoids and fernane/arborane derived aromatic products, which were present only negligibly within their siderite matrix, as well as from other types of fossilised plants. These terpenoids had been recognised in some extant ferns, but scarcely in sedimentary organic matter and their exact source remained ambiguous. The present fossil biomarker data confirms an ancient true fern origin. Furthermore, the excellent concretion preservation of a series of related terpenoid products provided a rare insight into their diagenetic formation. The benign properties of carbonate concretions could be exploited further for biomarker evidence of other fossilised organisms, with one important caveat being that biomarker signals attributed to isolated fossils be significantly distinct from background organic matter pervading the concretion matrix. For instance, hydrocarbon profiles of seed ferns (pteridosperms) and articulates (horsetails) also preserved in Mazon Creek concretions were indistinguishable from separate analysis of their concretion matrix, preventing biomarker recognition. 2023 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/96134 10.1038/s41598-023-47009-8 eng http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FL210100103 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Fossils Ferns Plants Carbonates Biomarkers Pentacyclic Triterpenes Plants Ferns Carbonates Fossils Pentacyclic Triterpenes Biomarkers Tripp, Madison Schwark, Lorenz Brocks, J.J. Mayer, P. Whiteside, J.H. Rickard, William Greenwood, Paul Grice, Kliti Rapid encapsulation of true ferns and arborane/fernane compounds fossilised in siderite concretions supports analytical distinction of plant fossils |
| title | Rapid encapsulation of true ferns and arborane/fernane compounds fossilised in siderite concretions supports analytical distinction of plant fossils |
| title_full | Rapid encapsulation of true ferns and arborane/fernane compounds fossilised in siderite concretions supports analytical distinction of plant fossils |
| title_fullStr | Rapid encapsulation of true ferns and arborane/fernane compounds fossilised in siderite concretions supports analytical distinction of plant fossils |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rapid encapsulation of true ferns and arborane/fernane compounds fossilised in siderite concretions supports analytical distinction of plant fossils |
| title_short | Rapid encapsulation of true ferns and arborane/fernane compounds fossilised in siderite concretions supports analytical distinction of plant fossils |
| title_sort | rapid encapsulation of true ferns and arborane/fernane compounds fossilised in siderite concretions supports analytical distinction of plant fossils |
| topic | Fossils Ferns Plants Carbonates Biomarkers Pentacyclic Triterpenes Plants Ferns Carbonates Fossils Pentacyclic Triterpenes Biomarkers |
| url | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FL210100103 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/96134 |