A team of paleontologists has made a groundbreaking discovery by finding fossilized feathers from a 30,000-year-old griffon vulture preserved in zeolites, a mineral rarely seen in fossils. The find is significant because it shows that soft tissues like feathers can be preserved for thousands of years in volcanic ash.
Led by Valentina Rossi, the team analyzed the fossilized plumage using electron microscopes and chemical tests. They found that the feathers were preserved in nanocrystalline zeolite, a mode of preservation not previously reported in fossil soft tissues.
The vulture’s body was remarkably well-preserved, with fine details such as eyelids and wing feathers visible. The team also discovered tiny microscopic feather pigment structures, which are a significant finding.
Zeolites are minerals rich in silicon and aluminum that can form in volcanic and hydrothermal geological settings. In this case, the alteration of ash due to passage of water induced the precipitation of zeolite nanocrystals, replicating the feathers at the cellular level.
The discovery challenges conventional wisdom that volcanic deposits destroy soft tissues. Instead, it suggests that low-temperature pyroclastic deposits can preserve delicate tissues like feathers.
This find broadens the range of potential rock types where fossils can be found, even those preserving fragile soft tissues. The study was published in the journal Geology and provides new insights into fossil preservation and geological processes.
Source: https://www.sci.news/paleontology/zeolite-fossil-feathers-13761.html