October Monthly Meeting – Speaker: Michael Frese ‘Extraordinarily detailed fossil preservation in nanophase goethite’

The potential of goethite for the preservation of extremely fine details in a wide range of fossils has first been recognised at McGraths Flat, a newly discovered Miocene Konservat-Lagerstätte near Gulgong, New South Wales. McGraths Flat hosts a rich diversity of microfossils, plants, insects and spiders along with fishes and other vertebrate remains. The site also provides evidence for species interactions such as predation, parasitism and pollination. The variety of fossils and the extraordinary high fidelity of the preservation allows for unprecedented insights into the mesic ecosystems that dominated Australia until the Middle Miocene.

Refreshments available from 7pm. Mugs or keep-cups encouraged. Non-members welcomed.

Meeting starts at 7:30pm.