19 replies to this topic

[j.gardavsky]

Hello all,

 

thanks to the ongoing bad weather, I have returned to my study of the cellular structures of the roots in the fossil Permian ferns.

 

And here is a microphoto of a cross section through the epiphyt with a nice mineralization,

 

 

The picture width is approximately 4mm 2mm.

 

Microscope:

Leitz Dialux 20 in incident light,

objective Leitz Pl APO 6.3x 0.20, 170mm tube length,

eyepiece Leitz Periplan 10x/18 red dot #519 749  (CVD correcting)

afocal imaging with Lumix DMC GF7

 

See also for reference the research paper, where another sample has been studied https://www.research...siten_und_Pilze

 

Best regards,

JG

 

PS: Click on the pic to see more if you like it

[Tom Graham]

@JG, 

Are these samples on loan from a museum or a part of a personal collection?

[j.gardavsky]

@JG, 

Are these samples on loan from a museum or a part of a personal collection?

Hello Tom,

 

it is one old slab, one side polished, in my private collection.

 

I used to be interested into the fossils, and frequently visited minerals shows, fossils excavations sites, and used to have lots of contacts with the collecting people across Germany and France.

I also have a shelf with books and old prints on the paleontology from the 18th, 19th and 20th century.

 

It's just my hobby, since about 45 years,

JG

[mikerepp]

Do you section these yourself?    Very nice, do you ever use fluorescence lighting?   The Lietz Dialux 20 is a fluorescence scope correct?   Well done thank you for sharing.

Edited by mikerepp, 25 January 2023 - 03:14 PM.

[j.gardavsky]

Hello Mike,

 

I don't cut the slabs, I used to be a contact with people doing it. I can do some simple polishing, and actually, this slab would require a better polish, maybe, I will find time in spring or summer.

 

The Leitz Dialux 20 can be upgraded for a fluorescence microscopy, but it would be better to take an Orthoplan, or other microscopes. On the other hand, here is no visible fluorescence in the samples I have at the moment.

 

I will post some more pics of the cell structures, tomorrow, or on the day after.

 

Thank you for your kind words,

JG

[j.gardavsky]

... and here is another diarch root on the same slab,

 

 

The picture full width is 3mm.

The mineralization is dominated by the chalcedony and agates.

 

Thank you for looking,

and if you like it, then click on the pic for the full size,

 

JG

[j.gardavsky]

... and here is one more diarch root with another mineralization, found on the same slab,

 

 

The microscope objective has been the  Leitz Pl Fl 4x/0.14 (Leitz ED fluoride glass).

 

Contrary to the excited discussions about the ED vs APO refractor lenses in another subforum,

I can clearly see the ED/APO difference through my microscope with the Leitz eyepieces.

But in the microscopy, I have always perfect seeing, no atmospheric turbulence, and maybe the Leitz eyepieces are more discriminating on the objectives.

 

Best regards,

JG

[Brianm14]

Lovely.  These photos are gems, JG, in more than one sense.  The first photo especially delighted me.

 

CS,

Brian

[j.gardavsky]

Extinct Permian Farn Cells with the Calcium Fuorite Crystals Mineralization

 

Hallo all,

 

here is a microphoto of the cells with the blue CaF₂ crystals,

 

 

picture width 6mm.

 

The blue color of the CaF₂ crystals might indicate excessive heat during the fossilification of the Permian farns.

 

Thank you for looking,

JG

[j.gardavsky]

Another Psaronius cell, filled with chalcedony, agates, and mineral clumps,

 

 

 

The picture width is 5mm.

 

Thank you for looking,

JG

[pjc]

Thanks for sharing these great images! I've long been interested in thin sections, but due to their cost and being unable to produce them myself, I may be limited to mica for now, or treat myself to a prepared slide of an ancient gem like lapis lazuli one day. I understand that minerals respond well to cross polarization, revealing their crystal structure. Fossilized cells are another area entirely, and something I've never seen before.

Edited by pjc, 31 August 2024 - 11:06 PM.

[j.gardavsky]

Hello pjc,

 

and thank you for your kind words!

 

These samples are one-side polished massive plates, microscoped with the incident LED light.

The resolution of the finest details has been achieved with the old Leitz APO microscope objectives, unfortunately no more manufactured.

 

Best,

JG

[columbidae]

Does it ever feel like the samples are watching you back?  Their shape is a little unnerving...

[j.gardavsky]

Does it ever feel like the samples are watching you back?  Their shape is a little unnerving...

An interesting thought, I have never considered.

 

Best,

JG

[topcode]

Do you have any ideas where stuff like this could be found? I need to get some samples like this for my microscopes.

Edited by topcode, 06 September 2024 - 05:34 PM.

[j.gardavsky]

Hi topcode,

 

these in my collection are old (about 100 years) samples excavated from the Permian in Germany.

From time to time, something from the old collections emerges at the Mineralientage in München,

https://munichshow.com/de

Otherwise, Germany has been already excavated into an emptiness.

 

Very nice petrified fossil wood can be found in the U.S., like in the Petrified Forest in California, and from Brazil, Africa, and Australia. In my collection, I have also samples from these countries/continents.

 

Best,

JG

[topcode]

Hi topcode,

 

these in my collection are old (about 100 years) samples excavated from the Permian in Germany.

From time to time, something from the old collections emerges at the Mineralientage in München,

https://munichshow.com/de

Otherwise, Germany has been already excavated into an emptiness.

 

Very nice petrified fossil wood can be found in the U.S., like in the Petrified Forest in California, and from Brazil, Africa, and Australia. In my collection, I have also samples from these countries/continents.

 

Best,

JG

I was able to pick up a petrified Jurassic fern slab from Tasmania on ebay. Hopefully it will show off some nice features when I am able to take a look at it, if it doesn't, at least it will be a nice conversation piece!

Edited by topcode, 28 September 2024 - 09:43 PM.

[j.gardavsky]

I was able to pick up a petrified Jurassic fern slab from Tasmania on ebay. Hopefully it will show off some nice features when I am able to take a look at it, if it doesn't, at least it will be a nice conversation piece!

If it is Osmunda, than you will enjoy nice cell structures.

 

Best,

JG

[topcode]

If it is Osmunda, than you will enjoy nice cell structures.

 

Best,

JG

The listing said it was. I don't have my microscopes in my dorm, so inverting a camera lens in front of my phone is the best I can do right now, but this thing looks really promising.

Edited by topcode, 01 October 2024 - 12:57 PM.

[j.gardavsky]

Hi,

and thank you for the inspiration,

I must look where I have my osmunda sample, and take a pic.

 

Best,

JG