Skeletal architecture and microstructure of the calcifying coral Fungia simplex

D. Dahan, R. Vago, Y. Golan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study presents the characterization of the skeletal structure of the coral Fungia simplex, a hermatypic resident of the shallow zones of tropical reefs. In contrast to most cnidarians, this species has a unique multi-septal skeletal architecture. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed the skeletal microstructure to be made up of bundles of thin needles of prismatic crystals. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the crystals are composed of aragonite with a preferred orientation exposing the {221} planes parallel to the septal surface and tilted by 20° with respect to the growth (c-) direction.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)473-477
Number of pages5
JournalMaterials Science and Engineering C
Volume23
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Jun 2003

Keywords

  • Aragonite
  • Atomic force microscopy
  • Biomineralization
  • Calcium carbonate
  • X-ray diffraction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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