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ABSTRACT
A beneficial technique, using glycol ethers, to help reduce the amount of amorphous organic matter (AOM) in palynological preparations is described. A brief history of glycol ethers, and their historical applications, is also discussed. The technique, which is relatively simple, inexpensive and rapid, can easily be applied as a terminal step to most maceration schedules. The technique does not appear to have any deleterious effect on palynomorphs, but testing treated and non-treated residues is recommended. Two examples, one Late Devonian and one Middle Pennsylvanian in age, are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of glycol ethers in removing AOM.
Acknowledgements
The author wishes to thank Dr. Jennifer O'Keefe (Morehead State University, Morehead, Kentucky, USA), and Dr. Geoffrey Clayton (Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland) for very careful and helpful reviews of the manuscript. Dr. James Riding is also thanked for his editorial and technical assistance.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
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Cortland F. Eble
CORTLAND F. EBLE received his BS degree in geology from Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA, in 1981, and his MS and PhD degrees in geology from West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA, in 1985 and 1988, respectively. Following a brief post-doctoral research appointment at the United States Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA, he joined the Kentucky Geological Survey, University of Kentucky, USA, in 1990. The focus of his work is on Palaeozoic palynology, and organic petrology, as they apply to fossil energy resources.