INTRODUCTORY PETROGRAPHY OF FOSSILS

This is a book for beginners. Not geological beginners, because an introductory course in paleontology and some knowledge of the petrographic microscope is assumed, but for beginners in the study of the petrography of fossil constituents in sedimentary rocks. Fossils are studied for various reasons: 1) to provide chron­ ologic (time) frameworks, 2) to delineate rock units and ancient environments, or 3) to understand the past development (evolu­ tion) of living plants and animals. All of these uses may be at­ tained through petrographic studies of thin sections of fossils embedded in sedimentary rocks. Some knowledge of the appear­ ance of fossils in thin section is also fundamental for general stratigraphic studies, biofacies analyses, and is even useful in studying some metamorphic rocks. Commonly, fossils are essen­ tial for the delineation of carbonate rock types (facies or bio­ facies). We have written this book for sedimentary petrologists and stratigraphers, who routinely encounter fossils as part of their studies but who are not specialists in paleontology, and for students who are seeking a brief review and an introduction to the literature of the petrography of fossiliferous sedimentary rocks. Although experienced paleontologists may be appalled by the many generalized statements on size, shape, and principal fossil characters recited herein, we counter that we have had some success in introducing non-paleontologically oriented geologists to the use and identification of fossil constituents without using excessive paleontological terminology and detailed systematics.