Inhibition of calcite growth by alginate

The kinetics of calcite precipitation in the presence of alginate was investigated using the constant composition technique. In the concentration range investigated (0.0002-0.005 g L⁻¹), alginate inhibits calcite precipitation. The extent of inhibition increased with increased alginate concentration and decreased solution supersaturation. Alginate adsorption, derived from normalized calcite precipitation rates, is described satisfactorily by the Langmuir adsorption model. At lowest supersaturation, alginate adsorption onto calcite probably reaches its maximal uptake of 7.5E-4 g m⁻², corresponding to surface coverage of one molecule for each 200-300 nm², depending on the molecular mass of alginate. This means that one alginate molecule can be bound over 100-150 Ca surface sites. Initially, on the surface of the inhibited calcite, XPS identified alginate but after further time in solution, when the system had recovered, XPS demonstrated that it disappeared from the surface, presumably buried under the newly formed calcite. The alginate affinity constant decreases with increasing supersaturation, evidence for incomplete adsorption. A simple model based on competition between growth and desorption effectively describes the observed change in the adsorption constant.     

Specific effects of background electrolytes on the kinetics of step propagation during calcite growth

The mechanisms by which background electrolytes modify the kinetics of non-equivalent step propagation during calcite growth were investigated using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), at constant driving force and solution stoichiometry. Our results suggest that the acute step spreading rate is controlled by kink-site nucleation and, ultimately, by the dehydration of surface sites, while the velocity of obtuse step advancement is mainly determined by hydration of calcium ions in solution. According to our results, kink nucleation at acute steps could be promoted by carbonate-assisted calcium attachment. The different sensitivity of obtuse and acute step propagation kinetics to cation and surface hydration could be the origin of the reversed geometries of calcite growth hillocks (i.e., rate of obtuse step spreading < rate of acute step spreading) observed in concentrated (ionic strength, IS = 0.1) KCl and CsCl solutions. At low IS (0.02), ion-specific effects seem to be mainly associated with changes in the solvation environment of calcium ions in solution. With increasing electrolyte concentration, the stabilization of surface water by weakly paired salts appears to become increasingly important in determining step spreading rate. At high ionic strength (IS = 0.1), overall calcite growth rates increased with increasing hydration of calcium in solution (i.e., decreasing ion pairing of background electrolytes for sodium-bearing salts) and with decreasing hydration of the carbonate surface site (i.e., increasing ion pairing for chloride-bearing salts). Changes in growth hillock morphology were observed in the presence of Li⁺, F⁻ and , and can be interpreted as the result of the stabilization of polar surfaces due to increased ion hydration. These results increase our ability to predict crystal reactivity in natural fluids which contain significant amounts of solutes.     

Dependence of calcite growth rate and Sr partitioning on solution stoichiometry: Non-Kossel crystal growth

Seeded calcite growth experiments were conducted at fixed pH (10.2) and two degrees of supersaturation (Ω = 5, 16), while varying the Ca²⁺ to solution ratio over several orders of magnitude. The calcite growth rate and the incorporation of Sr in the growing crystals strongly depended on the solution stoichiometry. At a constant degree of supersaturation, the growth rate was highest when the solution concentration ratio, r = [Ca²⁺]/[], equaled one, and decreased symmetrically with increasing or decreasing values of r. This behavior is consistent with the kink growth rate theory for non-Kossel crystals, assuming that the frequency factors for attachment to kink sites are the same for the cation and anion. Measured Sr partition coefficients, D_Sr, ranged from 0.02 to 0.12, and correlated positively with the calcite growth rate.     

The role of background electrolytes on the kinetics and mechanism of calcite dissolution

The influence of background electrolytes on the mechanism and kinetics of calcite dissolution was investigated using in situ Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Experiments were carried out far from equilibrium by passing alkali halide salt (NaCl, NaF, NaI, KCl and LiCl) solutions over calcite cleavage surfaces. This AFM study shows that all the electrolytes tested enhance the calcite dissolution rate. The effect and its magnitude is determined by the nature and concentration of the electrolyte solution. Changes in morphology of dissolution etch pits and dissolution rates are interpreted in terms of modification in water structure dynamics (i.e. in the activation energy barrier of breaking water-water interactions), as well as solute and surface hydration induced by the presence of different ions in solution. At low ionic strength, stabilization of water hydration shells of calcium ions by non-paired electrolytes leads to a reduction in the calcite dissolution rate compared to pure water. At high ionic strength, salts with a common anion yield similar dissolution rates, increasing in the order Cl⁻ < I⁻ < F⁻ for salts with a common cation due to an increasing mobility of water around the calcium ion. Changes in etch pit morphology observed in the presence of F⁻ and Li⁺ are explained by stabilization of etch pit edges bonded by like-charged ions and ion incorporation, respectively. As previously reported and confirmed here for the case of F⁻, highly hydrated ions increased the etch pit nucleation density on calcite surfaces compared to pure water. This may be related to a reduction in the energy barrier for etch pit nucleation due to disruption of the surface hydration layer.     

The effect of specific background electrolytes on water structure and solute hydration: Consequences for crystal dissolution and growth

Barium sulfate is used as a model system to illustrate how solution composition can affect processes of crystal dissolution and growth. Rates and modes of reactions as well as morphological features can be modified by the introduction of simple ionic salts (KCl, NaCl, LiCl, CsCl, NaF, NaNO₃), due to the effects of these electrolytes on water structure dynamics and solute hydration. Based on the results of AFM in situ experiments performed at supersaturation (Ω) = 10.6 ± 0.1 and ionic strength (IS) in the range of 0.005-0.1 M we show that growth and dissolution behavior of barite changes under conditions of constant thermodynamic driving force (Ω) and constant IS in a systematic way depending on the specific background electrolyte used to adjust IS. The results are interpreted in terms of the relationships between solution composition, ion properties and the consequent growth and dissolution behavior. Island spreading rate is affected by salt-specific effects on the activation energy barrier of expelling water molecules from solvation shells of barite building units. Dissolution kinetics depends on the balance between the energy expended on breaking solvent structure and the energy gain on hydrating Ba²⁺ and ions, which are specific for different electrolyte solutions. Nucleation rates are determined by the frequency of water exchange around a barium cation which also depends on solution composition. Relating the structure of the solution to its composition can help to understand phenomena such as growth and dissolution in the presence of organic additives or impurity incorporation.     

Effects of seed material and solution composition on calcite precipitation

We studied the effects of seed material and solution composition on calcite crystal precipitation using a pH-stat system. The seed materials investigated included quartz, dolomite, two calcites with different particle size and specific surface area, and two dried precipitates from precipitative softening water treatment plants. Our results indicated that, of the seed materials examined, only calcite had the ability to initiate calcite precipitation in a solution with a degree of supersaturation of 5.3 over a period of two hours, and that the precipitation rate was proportional to the available surface area of the seed. For different solution compositions with the same degree of supersaturation, the calcite precipitation rate increased with increasing carbonate/calcium ratio, which contradicts the generally accepted empirical rate expression that the degree of supersaturation is the sole factor controlling precipitation kinetics. By applying a surface complexation model, the surface concentrations of two species, >CO₃⁻ and >CaCO₃⁻, appear to be responsible for catalyzing calcite precipitation.     

Magnesium inhibition of calcite dissolution kinetics

We present evidence of inhibition of calcite dissolution by dissolved magnesium through direct observations of the (104) surface using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and vertical scanning interferometry (VSI). Far from equilibrium, the pattern of magnesium inhibition is dependent on solution composition and specific to surface step geometry. In CO₂-free solutions (pH 8.8), dissolved magnesium brings about little inhibition even at concentrations of 0.8 × 10⁻³ molal. At the same pH, magnesium concentrations of less than 0.05 × 10⁻³ molal in carbonate-buffered solutions generate significant inhibition, although no changes in surface and etch pit morphology are observed. As concentrations exceed magnesite saturation, the dissolution rate shows little additional decrease; however, selective pinning of step edges results in unique etch pit profiles, seen in both AFM and VSI datasets. Despite the decreases in step velocity, magnesium addition in carbonated solutions also appears to activate the surface by increasing the nucleation rate of new defects. These relationships suggest that the modest depression of the bulk rate measured by VSI reflects a balance between competing reaction mechanisms that simultaneously depress the rate through selective inhibition of step movement, but also enhance reactivity on terraces by lowering the energy barrier to new etch pit formation.     

Metastable phenomena on calcite {101̄4} surfaces growing from Sr2+–Ca2+–CO32− aqueous solutions

In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging and composition analysis, and X-ray diffraction have provided information about the growth, dissolution and transformation processes promoted by Sr²⁺–Ca²⁺–CO₃²⁻ aqueous solutions in contact with calcite {101̄4} surfaces. Experiments have shown a wide variety of surface phenomena, such as the influence of the Sr-bearing newly-formed surface on the subsequent growth (template effect), the growth and subsequent dissolution of surfaces and the nucleation of secondary three-dimensional nuclei on calcite surfaces. These phenomena reveal the metastability of the crystallisation system and are a consequence of the interplay between thermodynamics (the relative stability of the two calcite and aragonite structure solid solutions that can be formed), supersaturation of the aqueous solution with respect to the two possible solid solutions, and the crystallographic control of the surfaces on cation incorporation.     

Effects of freshwater Synechococcus sp. cyanobacteria pH buffering on CaCO3 precipitation: Implications for CO2 sequestration

In the present study, a mixed-flow steady-state bio-reactor was designed to biomineralize CO₂ as a consequence of photosynthesis from active Synechococcus sp. Dissolved CO₂, generated by constant air bubbling of inorganic and cyanobacteria stock solutions, was the only source of inorganic carbon. The release of hydroxide ion by cyanobacteria from photosynthesis maintained highly alkaline pH conditions. In the presence of Ca²⁺ and carbonate species, this led to calcite supersaturation under steady state conditions. Ca²⁺ remained constant throughout the experiments showing the presence of steady state conditions. Similarly, the Synechococcus sp. biomass concentration remained stable within uncertainty. A gradual pH decrease was observed for the highest Ca²⁺ condition coinciding with the formation of CaCO₃. The high degree of supersaturation, under steady-state conditions, contributed to the stabilization of calcite and maintained a constant driving force for the mineral nucleation and growth. For the highest Ca²⁺ condition a fast crystal growth rate was consistent with rapid calcite precipitation as suggested further by affinity calculations. Although saturation state based kinetic precipitation models cannot accurately reflect the controls on crystal growth kinetics or reliably predict growth mechanisms, the relatively reaction orders obtained from modeling of calcite precipitation rates as function of decreasing carbonate concentration suggest that the precipitation occurred via surface-controlled rate determining reactions. These high reaction orders support in addition the hypothesis that crystal growth proceeded through complex surface controlled mechanisms. In conclusion, the steady state supersaturated conditions generated by a constant cyanobacteria biomass and metabolic activity strongly suggest that these microorganisms could be used for the development of efficient CO₂ sequestration methods in a controlled large-scale environment.     

Changes in optical properties, chemistry, and micropore and mesopore characteristics of bituminous coal at the contact with dikes in the Illinois Basin

Changes in high-volatile bituminous coal (Pennsylvanian) near contacts with two volcanic intrusions in Illinois were investigated with respect to optical properties, coal chemistry, and coal pore structure. Vitrinite reflectance (R_o) increases from 0.62% to 5.03% within a distance of 5.5 m from the larger dike, and from 0.63% to 3.71% within 3.3 m from the small dike. Elemental chemistry of the coal shows distinct reductions in hydrogen and nitrogen content close to the intrusions. No trend was observed for total sulfur content, but decreases in sulfate content towards the dikes indicate thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR). Contact-metamorphism has a dramatic effect on coal porosity, and microporosity in particular. Around the large dike, the micropore volume, after a slight initial increase, progressively decreases from 0.0417 cm³/g in coal situated 4.7 m from the intrusive contact to 0.0126 cm³/g at the contact. Strongly decreasing mesopore and micropore volumes in the altered zone, together with frequent cleat and fracture filling by calcite, indicate deteriorating conditions for both coalbed gas sorption and gas transmissibility.     

Interaction between dissolved silica and calcium carbonate: 1. Spontaneous precipitation of calcium carbonate in the presence of dissolved silica

The kinetics of spontaneous precipitation of CaCO₃ from aqueous solution in the presence of dissolved silica was investigated by recording pH as a function of time. The presence of dissolved silica, at concentrations below saturation with respect to the amorphous phase, decreases induction time for CaCO₃ nucleation, but does not affect CaCO₃ polymorphism. For a “pure” system without silica, the surface free energy, σ, determined from classical nucleation theory is 42 mJ m⁻². This agrees well with values reported in the literature for vaterite and indicates some degree of heterogeneous nucleation, which can occur because of the relatively low degree of supersaturation used for the experiments. In the presence of 1 and 2 mM silica, σ is 37 and 34 mJ m⁻², indicating an increasing degree of heterogeneous nucleation as the amount of polymeric silica increases. The ratio of Ca²⁺ to CO₃²⁻ activity was a governing parameter for determining which CaCO₃ polymorph precipitated. At high Ca²⁺ to CO₃²⁻ activity ratios, almost all initial solid was vaterite, whereas at low ratios, a mixture of vaterite and calcite was observed. In solutions with low Ca²⁺ to CO₃²⁻ activity ratios, the presence of silica at concentrations above saturation with respect to amorphous silica led to formation of only calcite and strongly influenced the crystalline structure and morphology of the precipitates. At high Ca²⁺ to CO₃²⁻ ratios, system behaviour did not differ from that without silica.     

Molecular-scale surface processes during the growth of calcite in the presence of manganese

This paper deals with the growth behaviour of the Mn-Ca-CO₃-H₂O solid solution-aqueous solution system on calcite {104} surfaces. This system represents a model example, which allows us to study the effect of a number of controlling factors on the crystallisation: (1) the supersaturation function, β(x), and nucleation rate function, J(x), for the Mn-Ca-CO₃-H₂O system, (2) the relationship of such functions to the molecular scale growth mechanisms operating on growing surfaces, and (3) the surface structure of the calcite {104} faces. In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) growth experiments revealed a wide variety of surface phenomena, such as the transition between growth mechanisms, anisotropic changes in the step rates, and the influence of the Mn-bearing newly formed surface on subsequent growth (step stoppage followed by the formation of two-dimensional nuclei and the reproduction of the original calcite {104} surface microtopography). These phenomena result from the interplay between the controlling parameters and are explained in those terms.     

The influence of disordered,non-equilibrium dolomites on the Mg-solubility in calcite in the system CaCO3-MgCO3

The influence of different degrees of disorder of dolomites on the solubility of MgCO₃ in calcite has been studied under isothermal and isobaric conditions. At 900° C, 4kb and 1000° C, 5 and 7kb, varied smoothly as function of the particular structural and cationic disorder of coexisting dolomite. Higher degrees of disorder of dolomite, estimated by the d _00.6/d _11.0 values and the peak height ratio I _01.5/I_00.6, lead to greater solubility of MgCO₃ in calcite. The run time for all experiments was 96 h, much longer than in previous work. The influence of disorder of dolomite on appears to be larger than that of temperature, as shown by the large range of (0.12–0.30) in calcite at 900° C 4 kb, found in this study. The state of order of dolomite seems to control the solubility limits in this system, and may explain discrepancies found in previous experimental work.     

Nanoscale effects of strontium on calcite growth: An in situ AFM study in the absence of vital effects

This experimental study presents in situ measurements of step migration rates for layer growth of calcite at various levels of superaturation and fluid Sr concentrations. Our results show that Sr has complex behavior as an impurity. At low concentrations, Sr promotes faster growth. This effect may be associated with slight shifts in calcite solubility when Sr is incorporated or may be due to as yet uncharacterized kinetic effects. At higher concentrations, Sr stops step advancement by pinning kink-sites or step edges. The threshold concentration of Sr needed to halt growth is positively correlated with supersaturation.Addition of Sr to the calcite growth system leads to significant changes in hillock morphology. Hillocks become elongate perpendicular to the projection of the c-glide plane, in contrast to the changes previously reported for Mg. Step edges also become scalloped, and the boundary between the obtuse-stepped flanks disappears and is replaced by a new step direction with edges parallel to [010].Incorporation of Sr was measured at two supersaturation levels and identical fluid [Sr]. The results indicate a strong positive correlation between fluid supersaturation and crystal Sr content. Further, Sr is strongly fractionated between obtuse- and acute-stepped flanks by a factor of approximately two. The sensitivity of Sr uptake to supersaturation may explain apparently contradictory results in the literature regarding whether Sr uptake in the calcite produced by one-celled marine organisms is controlled by temperature. In addition, Sr contents of natural calcite samples may be good indicators of the levels of supersaturation at which the crystals grew.Results of this investigation demonstrate the importance of understanding impurity-specific interactions with calcite growth surfaces at the microscopic scale. Despite similar chemical behavior in some systems, Mg and Sr clearly have very different effects on calcite growth. If Sr and other impurities are to be used as robust indicators of growth conditions in natural calcite samples, well grounded understanding of the mechanisms of recording trace element signatures in calcite is an essential step toward correctly deciphering paleoenvironmental signals from fossil calcite compositions.     

An atomic force microscopy study of calcite dissolution in saline solutions: The role of magnesium ions

In situ Atomic Force Microscopy, AFM, experiments have been carried out using calcite cleavage surfaces in contact with solutions of MgSO₄, MgCl₂, Na₂SO₄ and NaCl in order to attempt to understand the role of Mg²⁺ during calcite dissolution. Although previous work has indicated that magnesium inhibits calcite dissolution, quantitative AFM analyses show that despite the fact that Mg²⁺ inhibits etch pit spreading, it increases the density and depth of etch pits nucleated on calcite surfaces and, subsequently, the overall dissolution rates: i.e., from 10^−11.75 mol cm⁻² s⁻¹ (in deionized water) up to 10^−10.54 mol cm⁻² s⁻¹ (in 2.8 M MgSO₄). Such an effect is concentration-dependent and it is most evident in concentrated solutions ([Mg²⁺] >> 50 mM). These results show that common soluble salts (especially Mg sulfates) may play a critical role in the chemical weathering of carbonate rocks in nature as well as in the decay of carbonate stone in buildings and statuary.     

Experimental study of nickel(II) interaction with calcite: Adsorption and coprecipitation

Partitioning of Ni in calcite, CaCO₃, was evaluated with the aim of collecting data on partition and distribution coefficients and to enhance understanding about the interaction of Ni with the calcite surface and further incorporation into the bulk. This information will aid in the interpretation of geological processes for safety assessment of waste repositories and contamination of groundwater. Coprecipitation experiments were carried out by the constant addition method at 25 °C and pCO₂ = 1 and 10^−3.5 atm. Ni was moderately partitioned from solution into calcite. For dilute solid solutions (X_Ni < 0.001), Ni partition coefficients were estimated to be ∼1 and found to be weakly dependent on calcite precipitation rate in the range of 3-230 nmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Ni molar fraction in the solid is directly proportional to Ni concentration in the solution. The fit of the data to such a model is good evidence that Ni is taken up as a true solid solution, not simply by physical trapping.     

Effect of pH on boron coprecipitation by calcite: further evidence for nonequilibrium partitioning of trace elements

The influence of pH and concentration on boron coprecipitation by calcite were evaluated under near-equilibrium conditions at 25°C. Calcite was precipitated by adding a metastable polymorph (vaterite or aragonite) to a solution of known boron concentration. This method maintains a nearly constant solution composition during the slow conversion of the metastable polymorph to calcite.Boron uptake in calcite was found to be strongly pH-dependent, increasing two orders of magnitude from pH 8.5 to pH 10.5. Boron incorporation into calcites precipitated from vaterite-saturated solutions was five times greater than in calcites precipitated from aragonite-saturated solutions. Ostensibly, these results suggest that the calcite precipitation rates were not low enough to attain equilibrium partitioning of boron into calcite. However, scanning electron micrograph analyses showed that the prevalent crystal forms of calcite generated from aragonite and those generated from vaterite were distinctly different. The different quantities of boron incorporated into these calcites may reflect different crystal growth mechanisms, consistent with face-dependent, nonequilibrium partitioning of trace elements in calcite.At a constant pH of 9.0, boron uptake increased from less than 15 to over 290 mg/kg CaCO₃ as the solution boron concentration was increased from 5 to 100 mg/kg. Our results agree with those of other investigators, despite differences in solution composition, and calcite precipitation techniques used. The agreement between the studies may be because the crystal growth morphology of the calcite was rhombohedral in both cases.     

Effect of ionic strength on the Mg content of calcite: Toward a physical basis for minor element uptake during step growth

This experimental study determined the effect of ionic strength (IS) on the uptake of Mg into calcites that grew by the classical step propagation process. Using flow-through AFM and defined solution chemistry, calcite was grown in NaCl and KCl solutions of known supersaturation state while measuring the corresponding growth kinetics. Analysis of the resulting calcite compositions by SIMS shows that Mg content is inversely correlated with IS for both electrolytes. A sixfold increase in IS decreases the Mg-content by up to 40%. Overgrowths that developed in NaCl solutions contain more Mg than samples that grew in KCl solutions. The corresponding kinetic measurements reveal that step propagation rates are independent of IS within experimental error but are electrolyte-specific. In NaCl solutions, steps with the obtuse geometry move significantly faster than acute steps, but in KCl solutions, the acute and obtuse steps move at similar rates.Analysis of the data suggests that the decrease in Mg content with increasing IS arises from the interplay of ion-kink interactions between the background cations (Na⁺ or K⁺), the primary solute cation (Ca²⁺), and the impurity (Mg²⁺). A simple physical model proposes that increasing levels of electrolytes block the attachment of the strongly hydrated Mg²⁺ ion relative to Ca²⁺ but the effects are step-specific for each type of electrolyte. Whereas K⁺ interacts weakly with kink sites along both step directions, Na⁺ interacts preferentially with acute steps and, consequently, slows their rate of step propagation relative to obtuse steps. Because Na⁺ increases the fraction of the surface that develops from acute steps and because Mg is preferentially incorporated into the kink sites of acute steps, calcite overgrowths developed in NaCl solutions contain more Mg than those in grown in KCl. Thus, the salt-specific Mg contents measured in this study can be explained by shifts in the distribution of step types and the ability of each step type to incorporate Mg. The findings reconcile apparent discrepancies regarding the effect of IS on calcite kinetics and Mg incorporation observed in laboratory-based studies.     

Kinetics of crystal nucleation in ionic solutions: Electrostatics and hydration forces

The heat of precipitation, the mean crystal size and the broadness of crystal size distribution of barium sulfate precipitating in aqueous solutions of different background electrolytes (KCl, NaCl, LiCl, NaBr or NaF), was shown to vary at constant thermodynamic driving force (supersaturation) and constant ionic strength depending on the salt present in solution. The relative inversion in the effect of respective background ions on the characteristics of barite precipitate was observed between two studied supersaturation (Ω) and ionic strength (IS) conditions. The crystal size variance (β²) increased in the presence of background electrolytes in the order LiCl < NaCl < KCl at Ω = 10^3.33 and IS = 0.03 M and KCl < NaCl < LiCl at Ω = 10^3.77 and IS = 0.09 M. At a given Ω and IS the respective size of barite crystals decreased with increasing β² in chloride salts of different cations and remained constant in sodium salts of different anions.We suggest that ionic salts affect the kinetics of barite nucleation and growth due to their influence on water of solvation and bulk solvent structure. This idea is consistent with the hypothesis that the kinetic barrier for barium sulfate nucleation depends on the frequency of water exchange around respective building units that can be modified by additives present in solution. In electrolyte solution the relative switchover between long range electrostatic interactions and short range hydration forces, which influence the dynamics of solvent exchange between an ion solvation shell and bulk fluid, results in the observed inversion in the effect of differently hydrated salts on nucleation rates and the resulting precipitate characteristics.     

Effects of temperature and transport conditions on calcite growth in the presence of Mg: Implications for paleothermometry

This study links direct measurement of Mg-calcite growth kinetics with high-spatial-resolution analysis of Mg contents in experimental crystals, with particular attention to the effects of temperature on growth rate and reactant transport conditions on Mg distribution. In contrast to previous experiments on Mg partitioning into calcite, here the layer-growth mechanism was observed in situ and step speeds precisely measured with fluid cell atomic force microscopy over a range of temperatures, degrees of supersaturation, and solution Mg concentrations. Data collected from 15° to 30°C yield an activation energy for calcite precipitation of 33 kJ/mol for solutions with [Mg] = 5 × 10⁻⁵ molal. Electron microprobe analyses of large hillocks grown at corresponding conditions demonstrate that Mg has a strong preference for incorporation at negative (acute) step edges, rather than at positive (obtuse) edges when growth rate is limited by surface reactions. This preference is reversed when growth is instead limited by diffusion of reactants through a boundary layer at the mineral-solution interface. These findings show that temperature is not the only strong control on the extent of Mg incorporation and distribution in calcite; transport conditions during mineral growth may also be a first-order factor governing the compositions of natural calcite samples.