CHEMICAL, MINERALOGICAL AND MICROSTRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF VILLORITA CYPRINOIDES (BIVALVIA) SHELLS OF VEMBANAD LAKE, KERALA, INDIA

Author(s): Adarsh, A.S and Senthil Kumar, G.R.*

Abstract: One among the clam shells, Villorita cyprinoides is largely abundant in Vembanad Lake of Kerala State, India. The shells are utilized for cement, calcium carbide, sand-lime brick production, etc. This paper discusses the chemical, biomineral characteristics and the microstructures of the Villorita cyprinoides shells. XRF, XRD, SEM were applied for analytical and imaging studies. The result of oxides demonstrates that the CaO comprises 54.19%, which is common in organic shells. Other than CaO, the reported other oxides are <1% i.e. SiO2 (0.73), Al2O3 (0.24), Fe2O3 (0.30), MgO (0.14), Na2O (0.61), K2O (0.03), SrO (0.31) and CuO (0.03). The XRD analysis exhibited that the Villorita cyprinoides shell of Vembanad Lake is formed by aragonite layers. The SEM images reveal homogeneous structures in the umbo and growth line parts of the shell.

PAGES: 11-19  |  55 VIEWS  43 DOWNLOADS