Microfossil

<p>A microfossil is a <a href="/facts/Fossil/by7NzIA1">fossil</a> that is generally between 0.001 mm and 1 mm in size, the visual study of which requires the use of light or electron <a href="/facts/Microscopy/GpHlElDS">microscopy</a>. A fossil which can be studied with the naked eye or low-powered magnification, such as a hand lens, is referred to as a <a href="/facts/Macrofossil/TKBySXyG">macrofossil</a>.
</p><p>Microfossils are a common feature of the <a href="/facts/Geologic_timescale/vBAm0D8Q">geological record</a>, from the <a href="/facts/Precambrian/zjF3N3Rx">Precambrian</a> to the <a href="/facts/Holocene/sppPgwW5">Holocene</a>. They are most common in deposits of <a href="/facts/Ocean/8W8lYgjD">marine</a> environments, but also occur in brackish water, fresh water and terrestrial <a href="/facts/Sedimentary/HQDCjrco">sedimentary</a> deposits. While every <a href="/facts/Kingdom_(biology)/QGRKbHos">kingdom</a> of <a href="/facts/Prehistoric_life/Ss6eB0EX">life</a> is represented in the microfossil record, the most abundant forms are <a href="/facts/Protist_skeletons/2aB6K1Ss">protist skeletons</a> or <a href="/facts/Microbial_cyst/WqPkzBnf">microbial cysts</a> from the <a href="/facts/Chrysophyta/feUctUoV">Chrysophyta</a>, <a href="/facts/Pyrrhophyta/jcQuSgM3">Pyrrhophyta</a>, <a href="/facts/Sarcodina/zhRv2axS">Sarcodina</a>, <a href="/facts/Acritarch/jz9WvCfk">acritarchs</a> and <a href="/facts/Chitinozoa/4u2y7pPd">chitinozoans</a>, together with <a href="/facts/Pollen/eqRP052I">pollen</a> and <a href="/facts/Spores/6qDRdcrs">spores</a> from the <a href="/facts/Vascular_plant/5nWI2huT">vascular plants</a>.
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Microfossil open-in-new

Microfossil