Říhová D., Juračka P. J.: Stories from the Scanning Microscope III. What is the Molluscan Shell’s Structure

Říhová D., Juračka P. J.

Molluscan shells are precise composite material, made of CaCO3. Inorganic crys¬tals of calcareous microstructure are surrounded by a thin organic layer. Several basic types of microstructure can crea¬te the shell wall: the nacre, the prismatic micro¬structure, the lamellar structure, the foliated and the homogeneous microstructure. Landsnail shells are usually made of aragonite, which forms a crossed-la¬mellar microstructure with complex in¬ner structure. Shell microstructures have characteristic physical and me¬chanical properties which protect their inhabitants.

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