Record Display for the EPA National Library Catalog

RECORD NUMBER: 395 OF 563

Main Title Recent Biogenic Phosphorite: Concretions in Mollusk Kidneys.
Author Doyle, Larry J. ; Blake, Norman J. ; Woo, C. C. ; Yevich, Paul ;
CORP Author Environmental Research Lab., Narragansett, RI. ;Florida Univ., Gainesville. ;Geological Survey, Woods Hole, MA.
Year Published 1977
Report Number EPA/600/J-78/146;
Stock Number PB-299 468
Additional Subjects Kidneys ; Mollusca ; Inorganic phosphates ; Clams ; Physiology ; Shellfish ; Reprints ; Phosphate rock ; Mercenaria mercenaria ; Argopecten irradians
Holdings
Library Call Number Additional Info Location Last
Modified
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Status
NTIS  PB-299 468 Some EPA libraries have a fiche copy filed under the call number shown. 07/26/2022
Collation 6p
Abstract
Phosphorite concretions have been detected in the kidneys of two widespread species of mollusks. Mercenaria mercenaria and Argopecten irradians, which have relatively high population densities. These concretions are the first documentation of the direct biogenic formation of phosphorite grains. The concretions are principally amorphous calcium phosphate, which upon being heated yields an x-ray diffraction pattern which is essentially that of chlorapatite. These concretions appear to be a normal formation of the excretory process of mollusks under reproductive, environmental, or pollutant-induced stress. Biogenic production of phosphorite concretions over long periods of time and diagenetic change from amorphous to crystalline structure, coupled with secondary enrichment, may account for the formation of some marine phosphorite deposits which are not easily explained by the chemical precipitation-replacement hypothesis.