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Structural, Mineralogical, and Biochemical Diversity in the Lower Part of the Pearl Layer of Cultivated Seawater Pearls from Polynesia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 September 2008

Jean-Pierre Cuif ,
Alexander D. Ball ,
Yannicke Dauphin ,
Bastien Farre ,
Julius Nouet ,
Alberto Perez-Huerta ,
Murielle Salomé  and
C. Terry Williams
Jean-Pierre Cuif*
Affiliation:
University Paris-Sud, Faculty of Sciences, UMR 8148 IDES, Bat 504 Geology, 91405 Orsay, France
Alexander D. Ball
Affiliation:
Natural History Museum, Department of Mineralogy, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
Yannicke Dauphin
Affiliation:
University Paris-Sud, Faculty of Sciences, UMR 8148 IDES, Bat 504 Geology, 91405 Orsay, France
Bastien Farre
Affiliation:
University Paris-Sud, Faculty of Sciences, UMR 8148 IDES, Bat 504 Geology, 91405 Orsay, France
Julius Nouet
Affiliation:
University Paris-Sud, Faculty of Sciences, UMR 8148 IDES, Bat 504 Geology, 91405 Orsay, France
Alberto Perez-Huerta
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow, Department of Geographical & Earth Sciences, Gregory Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
Murielle Salomé
Affiliation:
European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 6 rue J. Horowitz, BP 220, 38043 Grenoble, France
C. Terry Williams
Affiliation:
Natural History Museum, Department of Mineralogy, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
*
Corresponding author. E-mail: jean-pierre.cuif@u-psud.fr
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Abstract

A series of Polynesian pearls has been investigated with particular attention to the structural and compositional patterns of the early developmental stages of the pearl layer. These initial steps in pearl formation bear witness of the metabolic changes that have occurred during the pearl-sac formation. The resulting structurally and biochemically complex structures have been investigated using a variety of techniques that provide us with information concerning both mineral phases and the organic components. Results are discussed with respect to our understanding of the biomineralization mechanisms, as well as for the grafting process.

Keywords

pearl growthbiomineralizationnacreprismscalcitearagonitemicrostructure
Type
Biological Applications
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 14 , Issue 5 , October 2008 , pp. 405 - 417
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2008

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References

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