Magnesium and Calcium Distribution in World Oceans - A Review

Abstract

Magnesium and calcium have noteworthy contribution in determining skeletal biomineralogy of calcifying marine organisms. Their concentration in shallow water differs from open water. Secular changes in oceanic Mg:Ca driven by mid oceanic ridge activity considered as the decisive factor of Mg:Ca in ocean water throughout the Phanerozoic. For understanding the biomineralogy of modern calcifying organisms and their evolutionary trajectory it would be a good approach to review the concentration of magnesium and calcium in the modern seawater.