Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory and Universidad de Zaragoza in Spain have discovered that how calcite is synthesized, or chemically transformed, can dramatically change the internal structure of individual mineral particles. The scientists compared the external shape and internal structure of calcite particles grown by two synthesis approaches. For one synthesis approach, calcite crystals were grown slowly, and a 3D map of the crystal structure inside the calcite particles showed the orderly, repeating patterns scientists expected to see. Using the other synthesis approach, crystals were grown very quickly. This time, a more complex internal structure was seen. Each perfectly shaped calcite crystal was composed of countless nanosized crystalline fragments, or defects.
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