CRYSTAL MORPHOLOGIES IN WHEWELLITE STONES - ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 19  (3) , 182-186
Abstract
Both dried and freshly extracted samples of [human] whewellite stones were examined by light-scanning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to determine the spatial distribution of the organic (matrix) and inorganic (crystal) phases. The crystalline phase was determined to occur in oriented clusters within which the crystals were stacked with their broad faces parallel. Phase contrast TEM imaging revealed gaps of .apprx. 100 A between all crystals, and the result of dark field TEM imaging showed that these gaps contain the amorphous phase. Apparently, the matrix is sandwiched between the crystals and may be responsible for cohesion in these stones.