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Growth dynamics and amorphous-to-crystalline phase transformation in natural nacre

Author

Listed:
  • L. M. Otter

    (Australian National University)

  • K. Eder

    (The University of Sydney)

  • M. R. Kilburn

    (University of Western Australia)

  • L. Yang

    (The University of Sydney
    University of Technology Sydney)

  • P. O’Reilly

    (Molecular Vista Inc.)

  • D. B. Nowak

    (Molecular Vista Inc.)

  • J. M. Cairney

    (The University of Sydney)

  • D. E. Jacob

    (Australian National University)

Abstract

Biominerals, such as nacreous bivalve shells, are important archives of environmental information. Most marine calcifiers form their shells from amorphous calcium carbonate, hypothesised to occur via particle attachment and stepwise crystallisation of metastable precursor phases. However, the mechanism of this transformation, including the incorporation of trace elements used for environmental reconstructions, are poorly constrained. Here, using shells of the Mediterranean mussel, we explore the formation of nacre from the meso- to the atomic scale. We use a combination of strontium pulse-chase labelling experiments in aquaculture and correlated micro- to sub-nanoscale analysis to show that nacre grows in a dynamic two-step process with extensional and space-filling growth components. Furthermore, we show that nacre crystallizes via localised dissolution and reprecipitation within nanogranules. Our findings elucidate how stepwise crystallization pathways affect trace element incorporation in natural biominerals, while preserving their intricate hierarchical ultrastructure.

Suggested Citation

  • L. M. Otter & K. Eder & M. R. Kilburn & L. Yang & P. O’Reilly & D. B. Nowak & J. M. Cairney & D. E. Jacob, 2023. "Growth dynamics and amorphous-to-crystalline phase transformation in natural nacre," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-37814-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37814-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jiseok Gim & Noah Schnitzer & Laura M. Otter & Yuchi Cui & Sébastien Motreuil & Frédéric Marin & Stephan E. Wolf & Dorrit E. Jacob & Amit Misra & Robert Hovden, 2019. "Nanoscale deformation mechanics reveal resilience in nacre of Pinna nobilis shell," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Robert Hovden & Stephan E. Wolf & Megan E. Holtz & Frédéric Marin & David A. Muller & Lara A. Estroff, 2015. "Nanoscale assembly processes revealed in the nacroprismatic transition zone of Pinna nobilis mollusc shells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-7, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Connor A. Schmidt & Eric Tambutté & Alexander A. Venn & Zhaoyong Zou & Cristina Castillo Alvarez & Laurent S. Devriendt & Hans A. Bechtel & Cayla A. Stifler & Samantha Anglemyer & Carolyn P. Breit & C, 2024. "Myriad Mapping of nanoscale minerals reveals calcium carbonate hemihydrate in forming nacre and coral biominerals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.

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