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Science 19 September 1975:
Vol. 189. no. 4207, pp. 997 - 999
DOI: 10.1126/science.189.4207.997
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Articles

Skeletal Low-Magnesium Calcite in Living Scleractinian Corals

James E. Houck 1, Robert W. Buddemeier 2, and Keith E. Chave 2

1 Department of Chemistry and Hawaii Institute of Geophysics, University of Hawaii, Honolulu 96822
2 Department of Oceanography and Hawaii Institute of Geophysics, University of Hawaii

The skeletons of living specimens of the scleractinian coral Porites lobata have been found to contain up to 46 ± 5 percent low-magnesium calcite even though free of gross detrital inclusions and boring or encrusting organisms. The calcite crystals occur in the interior of skeletal structures, have dimensions of 20 micrometers or less, and are surrounded by typical aragonite needles. Biogenic deposition seems to be the most likely source of the calcite, although the evidence does not rule out diagenesis of metastable.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Geochemical Perspectives on Coral Mineralization.
A. L. Cohen, A. L. Cohen, and T. A. McConnaughey (2003)
Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 54, 151-187
   Full Text »    PDF »
Skeletal Calcite in Living Scleractinian Corals: Microboring Fillings, Not Primary Skeletal Deposits.
I. G. Macintyre, I. G. MACINTYRE, and K. M. TOWE (1976)
Science 193, 701-702
   PDF »


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