Rhinoliths: biomineralogical aspects

The minerals, filling or replacing tissue of various organs in living organisms, break their functional ability, and therefore the pathogenic mechanisms of biominerals currently remain relevant and unsolved problem. Investigations of composition and structure of the two rinolits removed from the nasal canals of different people were carried. It was established that the mineral component of the investigated nasal stone is a non-stoichiometric carbonated hydroxyapatite. Structural features of apatite (spherulites-zonal, dentin-like) due to the heterogeneity of the organic component of the secreted mucous membranes in the nasal passages.