Analytical X-ray microscopy on Psaronius sp - A contribution to permineralization process studies

290 Million years old petrifactions from the Lower Permian Rotliegend of Ch emnitz were examined by analytical X-ray microscopy to determine their chem ical composition. Mappings show the inhomogeneous distribution of the invol ved elements, which may reflect the former plant anatomy, as well as some c ontemporaneous processes of permineralization (with silica and fluorite) an d agate-formation. Most prominent advantages of the analytical X-ray micros copy are the low preparation expense of the museum samples, the analysis sc anning range and the X-ray spot diameter suitable with the dimension of the fossil plants.