Compositional variations in apatites with respect to preferential ionic extraction

Detection of ionic losses from the apatitic structure (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) by high-resolution electron microscopy was investigated theoretically. Linear image analysis showed the need for an objective aperture of at least 3.7 nm-1 to visualize four different coordinates (CaII, OH-, P and mid-point between CaII-P bond). High-resolution image analysis and plotting of OH- column intensity against specimen thickness showed an inverse proportionality between composition and OH- image intensities for very thin specimens (less than 2 nm). Image intensity variation would be detectable experimentally, but the preparation of such thin specimens by ultramicrotomy is impossible.