ENIGMATIC (BAR-LIKE) MICROSCOPIC PHOSPHATIC ELEMENTS FROM THE LOWER MISSISSIPPIAN OF IRELAND

Abstract:Enigmatic Bar-like phosphatic microfossils have been isolated from early Mississippian acid insoluble residues of fully marine facies in Ireland where they are usually associated with other phosphatic elements such as conodonts and fish microfossils. Seven Bar-like element morphotypes are described together with a discussion on the possible affinities of these elements. Where coexisting in one sample, a number of the morphotypes resemble the morphology of disarticulated laminae of conulariid exoskeleton. Others differ and appear as discrete elements; it is possible that they represent different morphological parts of a single organism. Comparison of these elements is also made to morphologically similar elements occurring back as far as the Ordovician. However, without articulated material their identification remains in open nomenclature.