Oolitic Aragonite- Biogenic form of calcium carbonate

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OOLITIC ARAGONITE- BIOGENIC FORM OF CALCIUM
CARBONATE
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CONTENT

• Introduction
• Oolitic aragonite
• Advantages of Oolitic aragonite
• Whiting Event
• Biogenic form of calcium carbonate

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Introduction
Oolitic aragonite is a unique mineral that
appears as same as sand but it has huge
difference compared with the normal beach sand.
These minerals are formed in the lower layer of
the water in the Banks of Bahamas.
Oolitic aragonite is the combination of calcium
carbonate and other chemical substances. It has
different structure when compared with other
calcium carbonate structures.
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Oolitic aragonite
The actual microscopic structure of oolitic
aragonite looks like a lot of interlaced needles
present together.
These minerals have huge advantages like larger
surface area and are available at an affordable
price. Calcium carbonates have huge influence in
our daily life and are used in the manufacturing
of toothpaste, antacids, carpet.
Usually, Calcium carbonates are taken from
non-renewable resources such as mines present all
over the world.
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Advantages of Oolitic aragonite
These minings are unsustainable and has high
energy intensities which results in the higher
price.
Oolitic aragonite will act as an alternative
choice and it is an eco friendly form of calcium
carbonate.
They are biogenic in nature as they are produced
by living organisms. These oolitic aragonites are
formed naturally during whiting event.
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Whiting Event
Whiting event is visible on the satellite images
as white clouds in the water. The researchers
first believed that they are caused by fishes
while disturbing the bottom of the sea.
Later it is confirmed as the formation of oolitic
aragonite. Phytoplanktons are the microscopic
plant organisms present in the water which
seasonally moves over the banks of Bahamas.
The phytoplanktons convert the sunlight into
energy carbon dioxide is absorbed from the
atmosphere.  At next level the carbon dioxide
will bind to the calcium present in the water.At
the end of the process it will create a calcium
carbonate called as oolitic aragonite.
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Biogenic form of calcium carbonate
Oolitic aragonite is the worlds only biogenic
and natural calcium carbonate. These structures
are mainly available in the Bahamas region.
The whiting events happen annually which restocks
the oolitic aragonite deposits.
Due to its natural formation and advantages,
oolitic aragonite is also known as the eco
friendly form of calcium carbonate.