Application of white cellulose acetate sheets on fossil wood investigation

Generally, transparent cellulose acetate sheets as a peel technique material are used in the identification of fossils, whereas white cellulose acetate sheets as a biochemistry technique material are applied in serum protein electrophoresis (SPE). Here we report the application of white cellulose acetate sheets for identifying a polished fossil wood from the Upper Mesozoic of West Liaoning, China. Based on the characters of transverse, radial, and tangential sections, the fossil wood is ascribed to a taxon of Protoglyptostroboxylon sp. Compared with transparent cellulose acetate sheets, white cellulose acetate sheets not only provide the similar information as that of the former, but also are more easily acquired in the Chinese market than the former. Because peel technique supported by white cellulose acetate sheets has the advantages of simple, time-saving, safe, reliable, and practical operation with lower material loss, it is a very good choice for the polished fossil wood investigation in labs, museums, geological parks, and handicraft shops. It is also a convenient approach to training students to learn the anatomic structure of fossil wood.