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Science 13 March 1970:
Vol. 167. no. 3924, pp. 1486 - 1488
DOI: 10.1126/science.167.3924.1486
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Articles

Microarchitecture and Deposition of Gastropod Nacre

Sherwood W. Wise Jr. 1

1 Department of Geology, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801

The microarchitecture of gastropod nacre reveals deposition of aragonite in the form of crystal stacks and differs markedly from the characteristic microstructure of pelecypod nacre. The structure permits direct observation of both organic and mineral phases of deposition on a growth surface topography that is ideal for the study of processes of mollusk shell calcification. The stack mode of deposition is functionally useful to the animal because it increases the number of crystals which can form and develop on the growth surface at one time.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
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EVOLUTION AND PHYLOGENETIC SIGNIFICANCE OF CARDIOIDEAN SHELL MICROSTRUCTURE (MOLLUSCA, BIVALVIA).
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Molecular Cloning and Characterization of Lustrin A, a Matrix Protein from Shell and Pearl Nacre of Haliotis rufescens.
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Anaerobiosis and a Theory of Growth Line Formation.
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