1967/06/09 by H. A. Lowenstam · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Engineering · Environmental Science · Chemistry · #Cephalopods and Marine Biology #Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry #Parasite Biology and Host Interactions #Lepidocrocite #Polyplacophora #Mineral #Apatite #Magnetite #Mineralogy #Geology #Extant taxon #Geochemistry #Chemistry #Paleontology #Materials science #Biology #Metallurgy #Goethite #Evolutionary biology #Mollusca
paper · doi:10.1126/science.156.3780.1373
openalex publication_date 1967/06/09 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
X-ray diffraction patterns show that the mature denticles of three extant chiton species are composed of the mineral lepidocrocite and an apatite mineral, probably francolite, in addition to magnetite. Each of the three minerals forms a discrete microarchitectural unit of the chiton denticles. This is the first indication that lepidocrocite is precipitated by marine organisms and an apatite mineral by chitons.