Abstract:
The heavy ion microprobe in combination with particle-induced X-ray emission was used to measure the distribution of manganese in freshwater mussel shells (Hyridella depressa) from the Nepean river in south-eastern Australia. Close to the ventral edge, bands with an elevated manganese content have been detected. These are correlated with growth bands in the mussels containing increased amounts of organic material, relative to the calcium carbonate matrix. Calcium minima, which were correlated to the annual growth rings, were measured close to the umbo region of the shells.
