MINOR CONSTITUENTS OF SABULOUS MATERIAL IN EQUINE URINE

The secondary constituents accompanying calcite and vaterite (crystall ine forms of calcium carbonate) in the sabulous deposits from 140 vesi cal samples and one renal sample of equine urine were studied by infra red spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy d ispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Apatitic calcium phosphate, present in 12 per cent of the samples, generally appeared in the form of spherul ites with smooth and rough surfaces. Calcium sulphate, clearly detecte d by IR in 12.7 per cent of the samples, did not have a characteristic structure under SEM, although EDX detected sulphur in the samples. Am orphous silica was observed in one case and had a nodular appearance. Organic fibres were not as common as might have been expected in equin e urinary deposits.