Microscope, cathodoluminescence, chemical and oxygen isotope studies have been conducted to determine the original mineralogy and diagenetic alteration of phosphatic grasping spines of Cambrian chaetognaths. The obtained data, along with a comparison to the composition of conodont apatite, show the presence of a few generations of diagenetic phosphate phases. A thin, outer layer of the spines is composed of very early diagenetic phosphate, which incrusted the original cuticle layer contributing to the preservation of an original shape and structural details of the fossils. This process can be linked to the ‘Orsten’‐type phosphatization mainly known from Lower Palaeozoic strata. Successive phosphate generations are observed within the middle and inner layers as well as internal cavities of the spines. Plastic deformations and diagenetic features of the spines show that they were originally composed of slightly flexible chitinous organic matter similar to that of modern chaetognaths. This conclusion is substantiated by rare findings of purely organic remnants of Cambrian chaetognath grasping spines.

中文翻译：

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早古生代棘足类棘突棘次生磷酸盐的结构，化学和同位素证据

已经进行了显微镜，阴极发光，化学和氧同位素研究，以确定寒武纪白垩纪磷捕获棘的原始矿物学和成岩作用。所获得的数据，以及与牙形磷灰石组成的比较，表明存在几代成岩的磷酸盐相。刺的薄薄的外层由非常早的成岩磷酸盐组成，该磷酸盐使原始表皮层变硬，有助于保存化石的原始形状和结构细节。该过程可以与主要由下古生界认识的“ Orsten”型磷化有关。在中层和内层以及刺的内腔中观察到连续的磷酸盐生成。棘的塑性变形和成岩特征表明，它们最初是由类似于现代千足动物的几丁质柔性有机质组成的。寒武纪千足虫抓棘的纯有机残余物的罕见发现证实了这一结论。