A palynological preparation method

Abstract

Abstract The description of a new palynological preparation method is given. Conventional acid maceration using hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids is applied to dissolve mineral components. The acid resistant microfossils are then concentrated on a filter made of polyester screening cloth which is fitted onto a membrane filtering apparatus. The filtering apparatus is in turn attached to a device which permits fast removal of small kerogen and mineral particles using moderate, normal and inverted vacuum. The resulting organic residue is virtually free both from small kerogen particles and from mineral precipitates, thus making this technique particularly well‐suited for concentrating organic‐walled microfossils from potentially poorly fossiliferous samples.