Accumulations of Calcium and Phosphorus in the Core of Hairs from Taklamakan Desert Mummies
May 2008
in “
Applied surface science
”
Studysummary This study investigates calcium and phosphorus accumulations in the hair of mummies from the Taklamakan desert and debates their exogenous or endogenous origin.
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The study investigated hair samples from mummies found in the Taklamakan desert using NanoSIMS, ToF-SIMS, Auger, and TEM techniques. Researchers discovered intra-medullar accumulations of calcium and phosphorus, debating their exogenous or endogenous origins. TEM revealed these accumulations decorated a fibrillar structure in the medulla, raising questions about molecular control in particle growth and potential steps toward keratinized fiber mineralization. Despite some degradation signs, the hair fibers were remarkably well-preserved, allowing for detailed analytical mapping.
