A BRIEF COMPARISON OF PALYNOLOGICAL PROCESSING METHODS ON SAMPLES FROM THE PALEOCENE AND EOCENE IN CENTRAL DELAWARE

Carbonate-rich, glauconitic, sandy samples were taken from a section of core deposited during the Paleocene and Eocene periods in what is now central Delaware. The initial reason for collecting the samples was to extract palynomorphs, namely pollen and algal cysts, for environmental analysis. Standard processing at the Delaware Geological Survey involved the use hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids for demineralization, followed by acetolysis, oxidation, and floating via heavy density liquid separation. Upon viewing the sample residue after this process, it was determined that a different approach may improve the quality and abundance of recovered microfossils. Fine organic material was abundant, while unbroken specimens were sparse. Samples from the same depths were collected and demineralized via hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids. Instead of acetolysis and oxidation, fine particles were removed using a saturated sodium hexametaphosphate solution followed by sonication and manual sieving. Only micaceous samples were subjected to heavy density liquid separation. Samples processed using this new mixed approach yielded a greater abundance of well-preserved palynomorphs and far less indistinguishable fine organic matter, making the residues viable for use in the intended study.