Dear colleagues,
In reading a very old literature (Kurt Schmid, 1934, Eclogae Helvetiae,
Vol. 27/1, 1934, page 83) I found that there exists a method to measure
the chambers of the inner whorls of planktic forams by filling the
chambers with a medium. Unfortunately, this author gave no description
at all of his method.
In some cases it is sufficient to add a drop of water under the
binocular, which renders the shells translucent; however, this works
well with recent materials, but not with fossil specimens. Thin sections
of the shells are also not appropriate for what I want to do, because of
the trochospiral nature of the shells.
X-raying the shells is too expensive at the place where I work.
Is there anybody who knows about a methodology to photograph or measure
the internal spire and chambers in a fossil planktic foraminifer ? Does
anybody know the mentioned method of Kurt Schmid ?
Any comment is very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Michael Knappertsbusch
Dr. M. Knappertsbusch
Natural History Museum Basel
Augustinergasse 2
4001-Basel, Switzerland
Tel. +41-61-266 55 64
Fax. +41-61-266 55 46
Email: Knappertsbus at ubaclu.unibas.ch
