New research published in the scientific journal Geology reveals that the feathers of a 30,000-year-old fossilized vulture found in central Italy are preserved in a mineral phase called zeolite, which formed as volcanic ash altered over time. The discovery provides the first evidence that volcanic ash can preserve soft tissues in exquisite detail, challenging previous assumptions about fossilization in such environments.
The fossil vulture, initially found in 1889 on the slopes of Mount Tuscolo, was mostly disregarded until recent technological advancements sparked renewed interest, as reported by Gizmodo. Researchers, led by Dr. Valentina Rossi from University College Cork, Ireland, discovered a new mode of preservation of soft tissues that can occur when animals are buried in ash-rich volcanic sediments. This mode of preservation has never been reported before, increasing the scope of environments that may contain preserved fossils for scientists.
By analyzing tiny samples of the fossil feathers using electron microscopes and chemical tests, the team revealed that the feathers are preserved in the mineral zeolite, marking a new fossilization method. The preserved details of the vulture include eyelids and wing feathers.
"We never expected to find delicate tissues such as feathers preserved in a volcanic rock. Discoveries such as these broaden the range of potential rock types where we can find fossils, even those preserving fragile soft tissues," said Rossi. The alteration of volcanic ash due to the passage of water induced the precipitation of zeolite nanocrystals that, in turn, replicated the feathers to the tiniest cellular detail. These nanocrystals preserved microscopic feather pigment structures, a level of detail that extends to the microscale and three dimensions, as revealed in the research published in Geology.
"We are used to thinking that volcanic deposits are associated with hot, fast-moving pyroclastic currents that will destroy soft tissues. However, these geological settings are complex and can include low-temperature deposits that can preserve soft tissues at the cellular level," said Professor Dawid A. Iurino from the University of Milan.
The fine preservation of the feather structures indicates that the vulture carcass was entombed in a low-temperature pyroclastic deposit.
Volcanic deposits are often associated with pyroclastic flow, a hot, fast-moving current of gas and debris that generally burns soft tissue because their temperature can exceed 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the conditions that led to this level of preservation are unusual but not unprecedented. The extreme conditions of volcanic eruptions can surprisingly preserve the most delicate tissues in the right circumstances.
This discovery not only provides insight into ancient plumage but also sheds light on fossilization processes, according to Devdiscourse. Preservation in zeolites—aluminum- and silicon-rich minerals that are common in volcanic settings—is a new finding with important implications for paleontology and archaeology.
As researchers continue to use advanced techniques to study this specimen, the fossilized vulture has captivated scientists by revealing feathers preserved in three dimensions due to volcanic deposits.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.
