Fluorapatite diagenetic differences between Cretaceous skeletal fossils of Mongolia and Korea

摘要: Abstract The skeletal tissue of modern bones is mostly composed hydroxyapatite, which contains calcium and phosphate. During diagenesis, calcium, phosphorus minerals the hydroxyl group can be exchanged with other elements to form carbonate-fluorapatite. It well-established that paleoenvironmental evolution geological events have played a significant role in compositional changes fossilized bones. For example, fossils from Hasandong Formation (Aptian- early Albian) Gyeongsang Basin Korea are characterized by black dark colors, whereas dinosaur Nemegt (early Maastrichtian) Altan Uul ranges Mongolia light brown white. This study investigated mineralogical geochemical causes for differences coloration between these two groups Multiple synchrotron-based techniques were utilized, including synchrotron–XRF, –XRD, –X-ray micro-computed tomography (μ-CT), micro-XRF SEM-EDX data analyze elemental composition mineral phases Korean bones, presence iron, aluminum, magnesium trace elements. Chamosite was identified as secondary at 5% weight total fossil mass, primarily However, minerals, such barite, goethite calcite, accumulate pore spaces. Since different result alteration procedures, chamosite suggests spatial replacement, barite Mongolian accumulation. investigation groups, analyzed using suite multidisciplinary techniques, revealed contrasting details helps determine origin colorization.