Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Fossil Diatom Frustules from Genera of Ellerbeckia and Melosira.

ABSTRACT: Fossil frustules of Ellerbeckia and Melosira were studied using laboratory-based nano X-ray tomography (nano-XCT), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Three-dimensional (3D) morphology characterization using nondestructive nano-XCT reveals the continuous connection of fultoportulae, tube processes and protrusions. The study confirms that Ellerbeckia is different from Melosira. Both genera reveal heavily silicified frustules with valve faces linking together and forming cylindrical chains. For this cylindrical architecture of both genera, valve face thickness, mantle wall thickness and copulae thickness change with the cylindrical diameter. Furthermore, EDS reveals that these fossil frustules contain Si and O only, with no other elements in

SUBMITTER: Li Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8235678 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature