Month: September 2022

BIOLOGICAL CRYSTALS. "The calcite crystals, as coccolith plates, lie in specific locations and are oriented with respect to the crystallographic axes of calcite; whereas the mollusk shell crystallites are aragonite, which in standard laboratory conditions is a less stable form of calcium carbonate than is calcite. The calcite crystals from the human inner ear exhibit a spindle-like shape that is quite different from that of synthetic calcite." https://lnkd.in/eVX4ANS View in LinkedIn

COCCOLITHS. "There are two main types of coccoliths, with quite different modes of biomineralisation. Heterococcoliths are formed of a radial array of complex calcite (CaCO3) crystals and are produced inside the cell. By contrast holococcoliths are formed of numerous minute euhedral crystallites arranged in continuous arrays and calcify outside the cell." (Beautiful images). https://lnkd.in/euKdfr8 View in LinkedIn

DIATOMITE. "It is estimated that over 30 million km2 of ocean floor are covered with sedimentary deposits of diatom shells. Diatomite is a low-density and highly porous opaline silica sedimentary rock formed by the compaction of diatom frustule deposits between 50 and 80 million years ago in both marine and freshwater locations." 30 m km2 and who knows how deep. Remarkable material from a microscopic algal biocrystalline shell. I use it regularly as a natural pesticide. https://lnkd.in/eXTtntg View in LinkedIn

SHELLS TO EXPLOSIVES. "Alfred Nobel implemented one of the earliest commercial applications of diatomite with his discovery that highly explosive nitroglycerine could be stabilized by absorption into diatomite, thereby producing dynamite." High surface area within the biocrystals. https://lnkd.in/eXTtntg View in LinkedIn

VASTNESS FROM SMALLNESS. "The algae represent major producers of calcium carbonate and silica among the world’s biota. Calcification involves the precipitation of CaCO3 from Ca and CO ions. Algal calcification may account for up to half of global oceanic CaCO3 production. Silicification is less widespread among algal groups, which transform dissolved silicate to skeletal material. Diatoms play a key role in marine silica cycling." High carbon sink. https://lnkd.in/eXTtntg View in LinkedIn

Emiliania huxleyi is a unicellular marine alga that is considered to be the world's major producer of calcite. Which in turn produces marine sediments that lock up atmospheric CO. A player in stopping global warming. View in LinkedIn

HALF OF GLOBAL. "In terms of total CaCO3 production, the pelagic foraminifera and coccolithophores together probably represent the bulk of modern-day global CaCO3 production. While accurate estimates of the relative contributions of these organisms are lacking, it is likely that the coccolithophores represent up to half of all current global oceanic CaCO3 production." https://lnkd.in/eXTtntg View in LinkedIn

CARBON SINK. "The oceans represent a significant sink for atmospheric CO2, removing approximately 30% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. In this context oceanic calcification plays a significant role in the formation of a sink for inorganic carbon. Bicarbonate comprises more than 90% of the total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the oceans and most evidence suggests that this is the main carbon source for calcification." https://lnkd.in/eXTtntg View in LinkedIn

LIFE CYCLE. "One of the most distinctive aspects of coccolithophore biomineralization is that two very different biomineralization modes typically occur within the life cycle of single species. The most notable example is the coccolithophore Coccolithus pelagicus, which (has) a two phase life cycle, with both phases producing coccoliths, but of very different types." https://lnkd.in/eUUB9pU View in LinkedIn

HETEROMORPHS. "The dominant reproductive mode of haptophytes is asexual mitotic division. However, in many haptophytes more complex life-cycles have been documented, with two or more morphologically distinct phases." https://lnkd.in/eUUB9pU View in LinkedIn