Student projects include: Paleoceanography of the Michigan Basin utilizing the stable isotopic composition of brachiopod shells. Phylloid algal mounds in the Paradox Basin of Utah. Silurian pinnacle ...

Each brachiopod has two hard outer shells covered with ridges. Brachiopods are still living in today’s oceans, but there are much fewer species now than there were during ancient geological time ...

Brachiopod hard parts have excellent preservation potential. As a result, the Museum’s Brachiopod collection has more than 300,000 specimens, including 10,000 type and figured specimens. Uniquely, the ...

A. Apatite (calcium triphosphate): This mineral makes up the bones and teeth of vertebrates and the shells of inarticulate brachiopods. Calcium phosphate looks chalky when new, but can darken to black ...