Palynology sample preparation

techniques
Field methodology:

 North-face of the exposure

 Digging for a minimum of 5cm into the rock
 Sample weight up to 200 grams
 Plastic bags with seal or zip
 Label each sample and mark the sample location
on log
Precautions

 Gloves
 Fume mask
 Laboratory coat
 Be careful during acid treatments
 Cautious about contamination
Laboratory Methodology:
 Wash sample with water or
clean with brush
 Keep the sample in sunlight or
in oven to dry the sample
 Crush the sample up to 4mm
 Weight 50-100 grams sample for
processing
Pour 50 – 100g of
sample in labelled
Add 10% HCl
plastic bottle.

Add few drops of

ethanol if the reaction
is vigorous
After an hour check the reaction
Wait for settling
Remove the water
Add fresh distilled water
Repeat this procedure for 3 times
 Add HF (40%) to sample and keep it in HF for six days

Stir x2 daily

When broken
down, decant 3
times with water
leaving to settle
each time

*Treat with HCl to dissolve flouro-silicate

Sieve through a 250
micron brass
sieve and discard large
pieces.

Sieve through 10 Preserve the residue

micron nylon
sieve
 Prepare 10% weight-weight
solution of ZnBr or Zncl
 Formula: (Weight/weight) %=
(weight of solute/weight of
solution) x 100
 1/4th of tube residue + 3/4th of tube
ZnCl or ZnBr solution
 *Label the tubes
 Centrifuge for 30 minutes at
4000 rpm
 Layer will appear on the top
 Remove the layer carefully
 With the help of dropper, drop
the layer on the glass slide
 *label the slides and also
tagged position of slides in tray
 Distribute the residue
equally with the help of
needle
 Keep for 24 hours in safe
place
 Mount it with the help of
mounting magic and leave it
for a while
 Ready for microscopic
studies
Thanks