Science. 1970 Dec 18;170(3964):1305-8. doi: 10.1126/science.170.3964.1305.
Coral skeletons are constructed of aragonitic crystals organized into fan systems. A theoretical model for the growth of such fan systems, which depends upon competition between crystals for space in which to grow, is corroborated by vital staining with sodium alizarinesulfonate. Fan systems of crystals compete with each other to form larger fan systems until large, relatively stable fans are produced. It is these relatively stable fan systems that have been observed in optical thin sections of coral skeletons.
珊瑚骨骼由方解石晶体组成，呈扇形系统排列。一个关于此类扇形系统生长的理论模型，依赖于晶体之间为生长空间而进行的竞争，该模型得到了茜素磺酸钠活体染色的支持。晶体的扇形系统相互竞争，形成更大的扇形系统，直到形成较大的、相对稳定的扇形系统。这些相对稳定的扇形系统正是在珊瑚骨骼的光学薄片中观察到的。
