Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) as a tool for detection of coral diagenesis

Fine-scale structures of intact modern and fossil coralline skeletons were analysed to determine alteration to secondary cements and phases using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). EBSD analysis revealed secondary aragonite cements in endolithic borings in the modern skeleton and whole dissepi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Coral reefs 2008-12, Vol.27 (4), p.905-911
Main Authors: Cusack, M., England, J., Dalbeck, P., Tudhope, A. W., Fallick, A. E., Allison, N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biogeochemistry
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Calcite
Climate change
Cnidaria. Ctenaria
Coral reefs
Diagenesis
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Invertebrates
Life Sciences
Marine
Marine biology
Oceanography
Porites
Scattering
Sea water ecosystems
Synecology
X-ray diffraction
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Fine-scale structures of intact modern and fossil coralline skeletons were analysed to determine alteration to secondary cements and phases using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). EBSD analysis revealed secondary aragonite cements in endolithic borings in the modern skeleton and whole dissepiments of the fossil skeleton replaced by calcite, despite X-ray diffraction (XRD) bulk analysis of the general area suggesting only aragonite was present. Non-destructive, in situ screening of coral samples by EBSD analysis provides a valuable tool for assessing the extent of alteration and can determine which areas may produce more reliable climate proxy data.
ISSN:0722-4028
1432-0975
DOI:10.1007/s00338-008-0414-3