What is micropaleontology?
Q: What is micropaleontology?
A: Micropaleontology is the branch of paleontology that studies microfossils, which are fossils generally not larger than four millimeters and commonly smaller than one millimeter.
Q: What type of microscope is used to study microfossils?
A: A microscope is used to study microfossils.
Q: What kind of information can be obtained from studying micropaleontology?
A: Studying micropaleontology can provide important information about the ecology in the past.
Q: Where are microfossils most commonly found?
A: Microfossils are most common in sediment that forms beneath water, particularly ocean water or lake water. Very old microfossils may be found in rock.
Q: How are microfossils separated from rock?
A: Special techniques are used to separate microfossils from rock. For example, the shells of diatoms and some other organisms are made of silica; other materials in the rock can sometimes be removed with acid, leaving just the silica shells.
Q: How many areas of study does micropaleontology have?
A: Micropaleontology has four areas of study which use different techniques to separate the microfossils due to their being made up of different minerals such as silicon dioxide, chalk, phosphate, and organic compounds.
Q: What is palynology?
A Palynology is an area of study for pollen and spores including fossils.
