Accumulations of Calcium and Phosphorus in the Core of Hairs from Taklamakan Desert Mummies

May 2008 in “ Applied surface science ”

P. Hallégot, Philippe Walter, Marine Cotte, Jean‐Nicolas Audinot, Jérôme Guillot, H.-N. Migeon, Elke Tallarek, Birgit Hagenhoff

hair fibers calcium phosphorus keratinized fiber medulla NanoSIMS ToF-SIMS Auger TEM fibrillar structure mineralization hair Ca P keratin fiber structure

TLDR Mummy hair from the Taklamakan desert has calcium and phosphorus inside.

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.

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