Naslov
Mineralogy of shells from two freshwater snails Belgrandiella fontinalis and B. kuesteri

Autori
Medaković, Davorin ; Slapnik, Rajko ; Popović, Stanko ; Gržeta, Biserka

Izvornik
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A (1095-6433) 134 (2003), (1); 123-129

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Aragonite; Belgrandiella; Biomineralization; Calcite; Dolomite; Gastropods; Quartz; X-ray diffraction

Sažetak
X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) was used to study mineral composition of shell of snails Belgrandiella fontinalis and Belgrandiella kuesteri collected from three freshwater springs in northern Slovenia. The fractions of aragonite, calcite, dolomite and quartz in particular shells were determined. The analysed shells consisted of two or more distinct inorganic layers. The outer shell layer for both species and all sampling localities contained aragonite. The outer layer of B.fontinalis collected at one locality, also contained a small fraction of calcite (1 molar%) besides the dominant aragonite. Calcite was identified in the inner layer(s) of both species (2 to 3 molar%), while quartz was found only in B.kuesteri (5-7-molar%). However, both species sampled at one locality showed presence of dolomite (approx. 20 molar%) in the inner layer(s). The presence of dolomite in the shells of adult gastropods and even molluscs is unusual. A possible formation mechanism and specific ecological factor that could influence the precipitation of dolomite in the shells of different Belgrandiella species is discussed.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Fizika, Geologija

POVEZANOST RADA