Home / Palaeobotanical Tools / Palynological Preparation Techniques

Keith W. Abineri, West Borough, Wimborne, Dorset, UK: THE EXAMINATION OF MICROFOSSILS, NANNOFOSSILS AND OTHER MICROSCOPICAL OBJECTS USING CELLULOSE LACQUER ROCK PEELS.

G. Kent Colbath (1985): A comparison of palynological extraction techniques using samples from the Silurian Bainbridge formation, Missouri, U.S.A. Abstract, Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 44: 153-164.

S. Ellin and D. McLean (1994): The use of microwave heating in hydrofluoric acid digestions for palynological preparations. PDF file, Palynology 18.
Snapshot provided by the Internet Archive´s Wayback Machine.
See also here.

C. Geyer et al. (2023): Collecting in situ/adhered pollen from fossil compressed angiosperm flowers. Abstract, Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 310.
See also here (in PDF).

O.R. Green (2013): A Manual of Practical Laboratory and Field Techniques in Palaeobiology. Google books.

O.R. Green: Extraction Techniques for Palaeobotanical and Palynological Material. Abstract, pp 256-287. A Manual of Practical Laboratory and Field Techniques in Palaeobiology.

! F Grímsson et al. (2021): How to extract and analyze pollen from internal organs and exoskeletons of fossil insects? Open access, STAR protocols, 2.

Klaus Henkel: Pollen sammeln und präparieren. PDF file, in German.

C. Heunisch, Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR), Geozentrum Hannover: Ein "Sekundenkleber" für Rezentpollen (in German).
Snapshot provided by the Internet Archive´s Wayback Machine.

K. Holt et al. (2011): Progress towards an automated trainable pollen location and classifier system for use in the palynology laboratory. In PDF, Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 167: 175-183.
See also here.

Jan Jansonius, GSC-Calgary, Calgary, Alberta:
Review: Jones, T. P., and N. P. Rowe (editors), 1999. Fossil Plants and Spores: Modern Techniques. Book review.
The link is to a version archived by the Internet Archive´s Wayback Machine.

! T.P. Jones and Nick P. Rowe (eds.), Google Books (some pages are ommitted): Fossil plants and spores: modern techniques. Published by Geological Society, 1999, 396 pages. Excellent! Click: "Preview the book". Go to page 47:
Light microscopy of fossil pollen and spores.

LRC Core Facility, Limnological Research Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (website saved by the Internet Archive´s Wayback Machine): Floral and faunal components,
Pollen prep flow chart (HTML website),
Pollen processing (in PDF), and
Quantitative pollen spike. Procedure writeups (PDF files).

Paolo Mandrioli (2000): Method for sampling and counting airborne pollen and fungal spores. PDF file, saved by the Internet Archive´s Wayback Machine.

K. Matsuoka, Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Science Faculty of Fisheries, Nagasaki University, and Y. Fukoyo Asian Natural Environmental Science Center, University of Tokyo (2000): Technical guide for modern dinoflagellate cyst study. PDF file.
This expired link is available through the Internet Archive´s Wayback Machine.

J.H. McAndrews, from CAP Newsletter 21: 23, 1998 (start on PDF-page 23): Palynological Myths: Monitoring Contamination of Fossil Pollen Preparations.

! L. Muriale et al. (1996): Fatality due to acute fluoride poisoning following dermal contact with hydrofluoric acid in a palynology laboratory. Free access, Journal of the British Occupational Hygiene Society, 40: 705-710.
! "... The fatality described below highlights the potential for relatively small quantities of concentrated hydrofluoric acid to produce acute systemic toxicity and it is clear that laboratory personnel underestimated the risks ..."

Jeffrey M. Osborn: Palynology (PDF file).

! School of Geography and the Environment, Oxford, United Kingdom: Fossil Pollen Preparation A brief tutorial (PDF file). See also here (equipment).
These expired links are available through the Internet Archive´s Wayback Machine.

M. Özcan et al. (2012): Possible hazardous effects of hydrofluoric acid and recommendations for treatment approach: a review. In PDF, Clinical Oral Investigations, 16: 15–23. See also here.

! Karl J. Reinhard, University of Nebraska, Lincoln: Palynology techniques for archaeology and geosciences. Extracting pollen from a variety of substrates, including consolidated geological deposits.
Snapshot provided by the Internet Archive´s Wayback Machine.

J.B. Riding and J.E. Kyffin-Hughes (2011): A direct comparison of three palynological preparation techniques. In PDF, Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 167: 212–221. See also here (abstract).

! J.B. Riding et al. (2007): An effective palynological preparation procedure using hydrogen peroxide. PDF file, Palynology, 31 19-36. See also here (abstract).

! James B. Riding and Jane E. Kyffin-Hughes (2004): A review oft the laboratory preparation of palynomorphs with a description of an effective non-acid technique. PDF file, Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia, 7: 13-44. Including a review of laboratory techniques on page 2.
A version archived by the Internet Archive´s Wayback Machine.

Louise Rowell: Palynomorph retention on clothing under differing conditions. Thesis, University of Western Australia Library. Go to:
Materials and Methods. PDF file.
These expired links are available through the Internet Archive´s Wayback Machine.

J.D. Schiffbauer and S. Xiao (2009): Novel application of focused ion beam electron microscopy (FIB-EM) in preparation and analysis of microfossil ultrastructures: A new view of complexity in early …. PDF file, Palaios, 24: 616-626.
Snapshot archived by the Internet Archive´s Wayback Machine.

Bruce G. Smith, Louisiana State University (with assistance by Brett Fitzgerald and Laura Quinn): Teacher Experiencing Antarctica, Procedures for Palynological Sample Preparation. Powerpoint presentation (13.7 MB), provided by the Internet Archive´s Wayback Machine.

J. Stevenson and S.G. Haberle (2005): Macro Charcoal Analysis: A modified technique used by the Department of Archaeology and Natural History. Free access, PalaeoWorks Technical Report, 5.
Still available via Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
See also here.

A. Traverse (2007): Paleopalynology (2nd ed.), Springer. Provided by Google books. See especially:
! Palynological Laboratory Techniques (in PDF).

D. Uhl et al. (2021): Menatanthus mosbruggeri gen. nov. et sp. nov. – A flower with in situ pollen tetrads from the Paleocene maar lake of Menat (Puy-de-Dôme, France). Free access, Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 101: 51–58.

Gonzalo Vidal (1988): A Palynological Preparation Method. Abstract, Palynology, 12: 215-220.
U. Villanueva-Amadoz et al. (2012): Focused ion beam nano-sectioning and imaging: a new method in characterisation of palaeopalynological remains. In PDF, Grana, 51: 1–9. See also here.

James M. White, Geological Survey of Canada, Calgary (Highlights from Recent CAP Newsletters): Differential Sorting of Palynomorphs During Preparation: Some Useful Research Topics.
Snapshot provided by the Internet Archive´s Wayback Machine.

D. Yeloff and C. Hunt (2005): Fluorescence microscopy of pollen and spores: a tool for investigating environmental change. Abstract, Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology.