Space Grant Consortium - University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

the a pproximately s ame pe riods of t ime, t o obs erve a ny pos sible de terioration of t he
chitin within the silica gel matrix.
Conclusions
Our in itial a ttempts in s ilicification o f in sects w ere successful. Our experiments w ill
elucidate the insect fossilization process in the silicate –rich environments. The IR study
of the chitin within the silica matrix will enable us to monitor any possible deterioration
of chitin over a period of time.
Acknowledgments
Thanks are expressed to the WSGC for a steady support of our projects on silicification
in t he a strobiological context. We a re grateful t o D on Lintner f or hi gh qu ality
photographs of our samples.
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