Spherulites of Calcium Oxalate in Uroliths: Morphology and Formation Conditions
ELLINA V. SOKOL1, ELENA N. NIGMATULINA1, NATALYA V. MAKSIMOVA1 and ALEXANDER Yu. CHIGLINTSEV2
Trofimuk United Institute of Geology, Geophysics and Mineralogy,
Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pr. Akademika Koptyuga 3,
Novosibirsk 630090 (Russia); E-mail: sokol@uiggm.nsc.ru
2Municipal Clinic No. 6, Ul. Rumyantseva, Chelyabinsk 450048 (Russia)
Pages: 535-545
Abstract
Among the mineral phases composing human uroliths, the most widespread are spherulite aggregates of calcium oxalate monohydrate (CaC2O4 . H2O). The morphology of these aggregates and their formation conditions have been studied. They are regular products of crystallization under the conditions of high supersaturation existing in the kidney. Formation of CaC2O4 . H2O crystals takes place mainly by means of heterogeneous nucleation, and their growth goes in kinetic regime. Destruction of oxalate concrements by means of distance shock-wave lithotrypsy (DSWL) creates many problems to medical men and patients due to anatomic peculiarity of the spherulite aggregates. In these, nuclei of two types
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