Diatom

(Sorry for the delay in responding) Had some equipment problems but should be back in action soon. Thanks for the kind words.

I’m not sure that posting this stuff to Noah would be appropriate. Besides, my Blog gives me more space for commentary. Go to the link below and on the right side find “Categories”. Click on “Mastodon Matrix Project”. When you get there I suggest that you scroll all the way to the bottom and begin with the initial posting on the subject (Feb.16); then work you way back up and forward in time. Unfortunately, personal matters have prevented me from updating my Blog on a regular basis over the past month or so but enjoy what is there. http://zone-vx.com/blog/

I have a few books but none of them have been of much help. Funny that you should mention micropaleontology; I am presently working my way through 1.6 kilos of hard mud that once surrounded the skeleton of a mastodon. (One man's boredom is another man's high adventure.)

I based the ID on the best match on the Internet. Admittedly, I am not 100% confident with it. One site was non-English and the other was the U. of Michigan. The problem with diatoms is that their ID is generally based on prepared specimens and mine was live. Besides, unschooled identification of diatoms to a species level is questionable under any circumstances.