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Why do crystallinity values fail to predict the extent of diagenetic alteration of bone mineral?

Why do crystallinity values fail to predict the extent of diagenetic alteration of bone mineral?
Why do crystallinity values fail to predict the extent of diagenetic alteration of bone mineral?
Spectroscopic indicators of bone crystallinity such as the infrared splitting factor (IRSF) are commonly used to determine the general state of preservation of ancient bone. In principle such indices might be expected to act as a proxy for alteration of bone mineral and thus could be used to screen bones (or portions of bones) for likely preservation of in vivo biogenic trace element and stable isotope signals. We tested the relationship between IRSF and bone mineral composition in two suites of well-characterised recent and Pleistocene bones. Initially, crystallinity change and trace element uptake are correlated, apparently both controlled by decomposition of the organic phase and exposure of bone crystal surfaces. This relationship breaks down in older bones where authigenic phosphate growth and mineral–pore water interactions are no longer rate-limited by the breakdown of collagen and exposure of crystal surfaces. In these conditions the extent of chemical alteration of bone will be controlled by site specific conditions, and thus while FTIR spectra of bone provide a broad indication of organic content and apatite recrystallisation, they are not reliable proxies for the degree of diagenetic alteration in terms of biogenic geochemical signals.

bone, diagenesis, crystallinity, irsf, recrystallisation, trace elements, stable isotopes
0031-0182
160-167
Trueman, Clive N.
d00d3bd6-a47b-4d47-89ae-841c3d506205
Privat, Karen
aef475fd-9ea1-4000-95a3-90bf09940b0c
Field, Judith
574a1ce2-7f09-4b7b-b7b0-1cbe72c0ac17
Trueman, Clive N.
d00d3bd6-a47b-4d47-89ae-841c3d506205
Privat, Karen
aef475fd-9ea1-4000-95a3-90bf09940b0c
Field, Judith
574a1ce2-7f09-4b7b-b7b0-1cbe72c0ac17

Trueman, Clive N., Privat, Karen and Field, Judith (2008) Why do crystallinity values fail to predict the extent of diagenetic alteration of bone mineral? [in special issue: Beyond Documenting Diagenesis: The Fifth International Bone Diagenesis Workshop] Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 266 (3-4), 160-167. (doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.03.038).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Spectroscopic indicators of bone crystallinity such as the infrared splitting factor (IRSF) are commonly used to determine the general state of preservation of ancient bone. In principle such indices might be expected to act as a proxy for alteration of bone mineral and thus could be used to screen bones (or portions of bones) for likely preservation of in vivo biogenic trace element and stable isotope signals. We tested the relationship between IRSF and bone mineral composition in two suites of well-characterised recent and Pleistocene bones. Initially, crystallinity change and trace element uptake are correlated, apparently both controlled by decomposition of the organic phase and exposure of bone crystal surfaces. This relationship breaks down in older bones where authigenic phosphate growth and mineral–pore water interactions are no longer rate-limited by the breakdown of collagen and exposure of crystal surfaces. In these conditions the extent of chemical alteration of bone will be controlled by site specific conditions, and thus while FTIR spectra of bone provide a broad indication of organic content and apatite recrystallisation, they are not reliable proxies for the degree of diagenetic alteration in terms of biogenic geochemical signals.

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More information

Published date: 5 September 2008
Keywords: bone, diagenesis, crystallinity, irsf, recrystallisation, trace elements, stable isotopes
Organisations: Ocean and Earth Science

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 63154
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/63154
ISSN: 0031-0182
PURE UUID: 23d07a23-1400-499f-b9ce-2ef66279b5b0
ORCID for Clive N. Trueman: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4995-736X

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 15 Sep 2008
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:35

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Contributors

Author: Karen Privat
Author: Judith Field

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