Dear Roland;-
    Now that is one damn good question! Of all the mollusks that die,
what percent get covered by ooze and turned into fossils and what
percent gets dessicated by sea water? There must be some number that
gets ingested by fish thinking there is nourishment there and
excreted thusly. I don't think anyone has ever asked that particular
question befoer. The answers should be interesting. One would imagine
that the elements would be re-disolved in seawater to be re-hatched
into other shells. Yep. very interesting.
            Art