Atom-scale insights into carbonate organic-mineral interfaces

Abstract:

Biominerals are formed by the complex interaction between guiding biological structures and the kinetics of inorganic mineral growth. Inorganic crystal growth experiments have advanced our understanding of mineral precipitation in the context of biological systems, but the structure and chemistry of the mineralizing interface between these two systems has remained elusive.

We have used laser-pulsed Atom Probe Tomography to reveal the first atom-scale 3D view of an organic-mineral interface in calcite produced by the planktic foraminifera Orbulina universa. We observe elevated Na and Mg throughout the organic, and a 9-fold increase in Na in the surface 2 nm of the organic layer, relative to the adjacent calcite. The surface-specificity of this Na maximum suggests that Na may play an integral role in conditioning the organic layer for calcite nucleation. Na could accomplish this by modifying surface hydration or structure, to modify organic-fluid and/or organic-calcite interfacial energies. Our data constitute the first evidence of the role of ‘spectator’ ions in facilitating biomineralisation, which could be an overlooked but crucial aspect of the initial steps of skeleton formation in calcifying organisms.