I'm now concentrating on molecular phylogeny. To create a time tree using BEAST, I need fossil data. I collected some pieces of fossils. However, they were discovered right on the surface, in dirts. I can't find the exact strutum, what I need, from geological map, owing to a complex structure in that area. Who knows what to do then?
ni-hao
the wiser thing could be to collaborate with a palaeontologist. A fossil found ex-situ, i.e. outside the rock in which it was formed, can be tricky. Fossil can be reworked, i.e. become a fossil in a geological layer, which is subsequently eroded, with the fossil being redeposited in a younger layer. Geological maps are wonderful tools, but as any human design can be erroneous.
regards
Ni has bu hau, Marc is absolutely right. The fossil fragments you picked up cannot be dated as no observations/identifications were made about the sediment in which they were located nor their original rock unit source. Taphonomy is the study of how things become buried (and what modifications are responsible for their modern find locations). These dynamics need to be taken into account to determine why the fossils you picked up might have been in the surface sediments and where they may have come from.
The geological map shows the age of pre-Quaternary deposits exposed on the day surface. Your samples may come from layers underlying those shown on the geological map and from overlying Quaternary deposits. They may also be brought from elsewhere and even be modern. Your work will be meaningless without the help of paleontologists and geologists.
And keep in mind that all fossil ages (however determined) represent minimum clade ages. Molecular timetrees usually apply alchemy to transmogrify fossil calibrated minimums into actual or maximal ages (with fancy math added in to give the illusion of scientific rigour).
- Badges
- Science method
- Similar topics
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Statistical Techniques
- Meta-Analysis