Application of solid state nuclear track detection technique in the study of fossil bones

Mammalian fossil bones have been discovered in the rocks of 16 my old Siwalik System in Pakistan. These bones belonging to some animal similar to the rhinoceros of our present days, have been studied using petrography, X-ray diffraction, gamma-spectrometry, fission track dating, and alpha-autoradiography techniques. Presence of uranium in bones, now petrified to apatite, has been identified by fission track and alpha autoradiography methods. Interestingly, the petrified bones still contain well preserved bone cells and blood vessels in their original shape and red colour, perhaps due to the sudden burial of the animal in an anaerobic atmosphere.