Comparison of the crystallographic structure of semi nacre and nacre by electron backscatter diffraction

Abstract

Aragonite nacre is commonly found in the shells of molluscs, while semi nacre has been observed in the shells of organisms from two phyla: the Brachiopoda and the Bryozoa. Calcite semi nacre and aragonite nacre display similar morphologies with laminae composed of tablets that grow by screw dislocation. This study uses electron backscatter diffraction to compare the crystallography of calcite semi nacre from the shell of the Craniid brachiopod Novocrania huttoni with aragonite nacre from the shell of the bivalve mollusc Mytilus edulis. Semi nacre and nacre are similar in morphology but ultimately have different crystallography. In N. huttoni calcite semi nacre, the c-axis lies parallel to the laminae of the secondary layer of the shell. In comparison, the c-axis of aragonite nacre in M. edulis is orientated perpendicular to the laminae. The crystallography of calcite semi nacre in the secondary layer of N. huttoni is similar to the crystallography of skeletal ultrastructures produced by bryozoans, while it differs from the crystallography described in other brachiopod genera.