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Science 23 December 1966:
Vol. 154. no. 3756, pp. 1548 - 1550
DOI: 10.1126/science.154.3756.1548
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Articles

Fluorine Content of Microsaur Teeth from the Carboniferous Rocks of Joggins, Nova Scotia

John S. Stevenson 1 and Louise S. Stevenson 2

1 Department of Geological Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
2 Redpath Museum, McGill University

Because the Carboniferous deposits at Joggins, Nova Scotia, contain the earliest fauna of terrestrial vertebrates, the extremely well-preserved teeth of these ancient animals are of special interest. The " mineral" composition of teeth from the Joggins microsaur Hylerpeton dawsoni is crystallochemically identical with francolite, a carbonate fluorapatite. The fluorine content of the fossilized dentin is 3.1 percent, which is much higher than any previoulsly recorded for fossil teeth.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)