R4: Mineral sciences of the Earth surface

[R4P-02] Microtextural observation of reef-building coral skeleton: Septum and basal plate

*Satoko Motai¹, Saki Harii², Yu Kodama³, Naotaka Tomioka¹, Motoo Ito¹ (1. JAMSTEC, 2. Ryukyus Univ., 3. Marine Works Japan Ltd.)

Keywords: reef-building coral, biomineralization

Reef-building corals inhabit tropical and subtropical shallow seawater. Although their exoskeleton composed of calcium carbonate show complex structure, all structures are considered to be assembly of “basic structure (center of calcification and fiber)”. In this study, microstructure observation was carried out in nano-micro order with a transmission electron microscope (TEM) for septa and basal plate in coral skeleton to examine whether basic structure can form septa and basal plate.