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Science 25 April 1975:
Vol. 188. no. 4186, pp. 363 - 365
DOI: 10.1126/science.1118730
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Articles

Science, Vol 188, Issue 4186, 363-365
Copyright © 1975 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Vaterite: a mineralization product of the hard tissues of a marine organism (Ascidiacea)

HA Lowenstam and DP Abbott

X-ray diffraction and infrared absorption spectra show that the spicules of the common tropical ascidian, Herdmania momus, are mineralized with vaterite. These are the first strictly marine organisms known to normally precipitate vaterite. The biomineralization of vaterite may constitute another link between the urochordates and vertebrates. The vaterite of ascidian spicules immersed in natural seawater remains mineralogically unchanged for 1 year, which indicates that vaterite may be preserved transiently in marine sediments.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Structural characterization and chemical composition of aragonite and vaterite in freshwater cultured pearls.
A. L. Soldati, D. E. Jacob, U. Wehrmeister, and W. Hofmeister (2008)
Mineralogical Magazine 72, 579-592
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