Abstract
The hydrated iron(III) oxide limonite is reported for the first time as a biomineral. In situ laser Raman spectra of the tooth cores from major lateral teeth of the chiton Plaxiphora albida are compared with those of synthetic and mineral iron phosphates and iron oxides. Raman spectra measured on iron phosphate and iron oxide standard materials are shown to be easily distinguishable from one another. The central tooth cores of mature P. albida teeth do not show any evidence for the presence of a separate iron phosphate mineral. Rather, in each tooth a narrow band of the hydrated iron(III) oxide limonite is shown to separate the magnetite of the tooth surface from a central core region comprising both lepidocrocite and limonite. The high concentration of phosphorus in P. albida tooth cores, previously observed by energy dispersive spectroscopy, is not associated with a separate iron phosphate mineral, indicating that this element may be adsorbed onto the surface of the iron oxide minerals present. The failure to detect a separate iron(III) phosphate is discussed with reference to other chiton species that display high levels of iron and phosphorus in the cores of their mature major lateral teeth.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lowenstam HA (1962) Bull Geol Soc Am 73:435–438
Towe KM, Lowenstam HA (1967) J Ultrastruct Res 17:1–13
Kirschvink JL, Lowenstam HA (1979) Earth Planetary Sci Lett 44:193–204
Webb J, Macey DJ, Mann S (1989) In: Mann S, Webb J, Williams RJP (eds) Biomineralization: chemical and biochemical perspectives. VCH, Weinheim, pp 345–399
Macey DJ, Webb J, Brooker LR (1994) Bull Inst Ocean Monaco 14:191–197
Macey DJ, Brooker LR, Webb J, St Pierre TG (1996) Acta Zool (Stockholm) 77:287–294
Kim K-S, Webb J, Macey DJ, Cohen DD (1986) J Inorg Biochem 28:337–345
Kim K-S, Macey DJ, Webb J, Mann S (1989) Proc R Soc London Ser B 237:335–346
Evans LA, Macey DJ, Webb J (1992) Calcif Tissue Int 51:78–82
St Pierre TG, Evans LA, Webb J (1992) Hyperfine Interact 71:1275–1278
Evans LA, Macey DJ, Webb J (1994) Acta Zool (Stockholm) 75:75–79
Lee AP, Webb J, Macey DJ, van Bronswijk W, Savarese AR, de Witt GC (1998) J Biol Inorg Chem 3:614–619
Lowenstam HA (1972) Chem Geol 9:153–166
Brooker LR, Macey DJ (2001) Am Malacol Bull 16:203–215
Lowenstam HA (1967) Science 156:1373–1375
Lowenstam HA, Weiner S (1985) Science 227:51–52
Lee AP, Brooker LR, Macey DJ, Webb J, van Bronswijk W (2000) Calcif Tissue Int 67:408–415
Evans LA, Alvarez R (1999) J Biol Inorg Chem 4:166–170
Ohtsuka T, Kubo K, Sato N (1986) Corrosion 42:476–481
Thierry D, Persson D, Legraff C, Delichère D, Joiret S, Pallotta C, Hugot-Le Goff A (1988) J Electrochem Soc 135:305–310
Thierry D, Persson D, Legraff C, Boucherit N, Hugot-Le Goff A (1991) Corros Sci 32:273–285
Macey DJ, Brooker LR (1996) J Morphol 230:33–42
Cate WE, Huffman EO, Deming ME (1959) Soil Sci 88:130–132
Bikiaris D, Sister Daniilia, Sotiropoulou S, Katsimbiri O, Pavlidou E, Moutsatsou AP, Chryssoulakis Y (1999) Spectrochim Acta Part A 56:3–18
Lowenstam HA, Rossman GR (1975) Chem Geol 15:15–51
Lowenstam HA, Weiner S (1989) On biomineralization. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Lowenstam HA, Weiner S (1983) In: Westbroek P, de Jong EW (eds) Biomineralization and biological metal accumulation. Reidel, Dordrecht, pp 191–203
Rey C, Shimuzu M, Collins B, Glimcher MJ (1991) Calcif Tissue Int 49:383–388
Shoval S, Champagnonand B, Panczer G (1997) J Thermal Anal 50:203–213
Parfitt RL, Atkinson RJ, Smart RSC (1975) Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 39:837–841
Boucherit N, Hugot-Le Goff A, Joiret S, Beranger G, Chaudanson H (1989) Thin Solid Films 174:111–116
Borggaard OK (1983) J Soil Sci 34:333–341
Borggaard OK, Jorgensen SS, Moberg JP, Raben-Lange B (1990) J Soil Sci 41:443–449
Howe-Grant M (ed) (1995) Encyclopedia of chemical technology. Wiley, New York, pp 829–903
Clark RJH, Curri ML (1998) J Mol Struct 440:105–111
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Dr. Alex Bevan from the WA museum for samples of vivianite, dufrenite, ludlamite and rockbridgite, and Mrs. Jenny Bevan of the UWA geology museum for samples of single crystals of hydroxyapatite, quartz and limonite. This work was partially funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) and a Murdoch University Research Infrastructure Grant. The ARC is also acknowledged for a Research Infrastructure and Equipment Facilities Grant for the purchase of the Labram spectrometer.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lee, A.P., Brooker, L.R., Macey, D.J. et al. A new biomineral identified in the cores of teeth from the chiton Plaxiphora albida . J Biol Inorg Chem 8, 256–262 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00775-002-0410-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00775-002-0410-y