First evidences of the bioaccumulation of α-quartz in cactaceae

The infrared spectroscopic study of biominerals isolated from the cactaceae species Wigginsia tephracantha shows the presence of dihydrated calcium oxalate (weddellite) and α-quartz (α-SiO2). The presence of quartz was additionally confirmed by means of X-ray diffractometry, by scanning electron microscopy and by X-ray microprobe analysis. This is the first report of the presence of this crystalline mineral in a cactaceae species.