Towards a time-temperature-transformation diagram for biogenic aragonite

Project Member(s): Dowd, A., Camp, E., De Silva, K., Cortie, M.

Funding or Partner Organisation: The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (Australian Synchrotron Access Program (Beamtime))
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (Australian Synchrotron Access Program (Beamtime))

Start year: 2021

Summary: Although aragonite is secreted by many groups of invertebrates, it is metastable relative to calcite under ambient conditions. Biogenic aragonite is even less stable than mineral aragonite although the reason is unknown. Here we compare the aragonite-calcite transformation in corals living in optimum blue sea conditions with that of the identical species living in extreme mangrove environments. We hypothesise that the different water temperature and chemistry will results in a difference in the stability of the aragonite. A difference implies there a difference in microstructure or chemical composition of the two coral skeletons, which may have relevance in a time of warming and more acid sea water.

FOR Codes: Environment, Condensed Matter Physics, Condensed Matter Characterisation Technique Development, Mineralogy and Crystallography, Structural Chemistry and Spectroscopy, Chemical Thermodynamics and Energetics, Composite and Hybrid Materials, Materials engineering, Physical chemistry, ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURAL HAZARDS, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.