The effects of chemical composition and distribution on the preservation of phytolith morphology

Different types of phytolith even when coming from the same plant react to high temperatures in different ways. To understand the behavior of phytoliths upon heating, we examined composition and distribution of some elements within different phytolith types using SEM-EDS and synchrotron radiation μ-X-ray fluorescence. By analyzing phytoliths from rice husk, rice leaf and Than tree leaf, we find that the compositions and distributions of metal oxides within different phytolith types are quite different. It is well known that metal oxides have been used as fluxing agent to reduce the melting temperature of SiO₂ in the production of glass, and different metal oxides can be used to produce a variety of glass with diverse features. Similarly, metal elements including potassium, magnesium and calcium in phytoliths should also act as a fluxing agent under high temperature, and the differential compositions and distributions of these metal elements within the phytoliths resulted in the variable reaction to heating. In sum, there is a negative relationship between the flux elements composition in phytoliths, and the temperatures at which phytoliths deform; furthermore, potassium and calcium in the rice leaf phytolith are almost evenly distributed in all parts, which may cause the phytolith’s shape to deform evenly. In comparison, Than tree leaf phytolith is found to have a high percentage of potassium and calcium located exclusively on the outside, which may explain why the deformation of Than tree leaf phytolith occurs firstly at the outside.