Morphoanalysis of Bacterially Precipitated Subaqueous Calcium Carbonate from Weebubbie Cave,Australia |
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Authors: | A. K. Contos J. M. James B. Heywood K. Pitt P. Rogers |
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Abstract: | In this article, we present a previously unreported morphology of bacterially precipitated calcite (determined using XRD, FTIR, and SAED) occurring subaqueously in Weebubbie Cave. Observations using FESEM and TEM revealed spindle-shaped crystals with curved [hk.0] faces lying parallel to the c-axis. Calcite precipitated under conditions designed to mimic the inorganic solution chemistry of the cave revealed a different morphology. These differences between the crystals suggest that the formation of the cave crystals is a consequence of biologically activity. |
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Keywords: | Biomineral Calcite Crystal Morphology Nullarbor Caves |
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