Thin Section of Dinosaur Bone
The circular patterns are the "concentric lamellae" of the
"Haversian Canal" in the center.
Most of the Haversian canals in the fossil bone are filled with quartz or calcite.
In live bone they are open and in
thin section would appear dark. The black specks are called "Osteocytes" and they
are also preserved in
the fossil.
Transmitted Brightfield Illumination
Definition/Function:
Significance in the Environment:
Characteristic Features:
Associated Particles:
References:
Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya, THE MICROSTRUCTURE OF DINOSAUR BONE, Johns Hopkins Publisher,
2005