ABUNDANCE AND STABLE CARBON ISOTOPE COMPOSITION OF AMINO ACIDS IN MOLECULAR WEIGHT FRACTIONS OF FOSSIL AND ARTIFICIALLY AGED MOLLUSK SHELLS

Abstract

Amino acid abundances in molecular weight fractions (separated by ultrafiltration) of artificially aged carbonate shells and fossil shells are reported. Hydrolyzable amino acids were primarily concentrated in the The δ13C values of individual amino acids in the molecular weight fractions of the artificially aged shells generally varied by ≤2–3‰ relative to their respective values in the total hydrolyzate of the unheated shell. These differences may in part reflect fractionations resulting from hydrolysis and decomposition.