0000000000301156
AUTHOR
Steve Weiner
Differences between Bond Lengths in Biogenic and Geological Calcite
8 pages; International audience; We used high-resolution neutron powder diffraction to accurately measure the atomic positions and bond lengths in biogenic and geological calcite. A special procedure for data analysis was developed in order to take into account the considerable amounts of magnesium present in all the investigated samples. As a result, in biogenic calcite we found some atomic bonds to have significantly different lengths as compared to those in geological calcite, after the contribution of magnesium is accounted for. The maximum effect (elongation up to 0.7%) was found for the C−O bonds. We also analyzed changes in frequencies and spectral widths of normal vibrations of carb…
A hydrated crystalline calcium carbonate phase: Calcium carbonate hemihydrate.
Hydrous CaCO 3 gets a new structure Calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) forms important minerals on Earth and is a model system for understanding crystal nucleation. Three different structures of CaCO 3 are known, along with two structures that are hydrated. Zou et al. found a third hydrated CaCO 3 structure formed from amorphous CaCO 3 in the presence of magnesium ions. The discovery illustrates the importance of amorphous precursors for producing new materials. Science , this issue p. 396
Stable amorphous calcium carbonate is the main component of the calcium storage structures of the crustacean Orchestia cavimana.
Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) is the least stable form of the six known phases of calcium carbonate. It is, however, produced and stabilized by a variety of organisms. In this study we examined calcium storage structures from the terrestrial crustacean Orchestia cavimana, in order to better understand their formation mode and function. By using X-ray diffraction, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, thermal analysis and elemental analysis, we determined that the mineral comprising these storage structures is amorphous calcium carbonate with small amounts of amorphous calcium phosphate (5%). We suggest that the use of amorphous calcium carbonate might be advantageous for these storage struct…