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Biominerals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

H. C. W. Skinner*
Affiliation:
Departments of Geology and Geophysics, Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University/Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA

Abstract

Biominerals are a subset of the mineral kingdom, those created by living creatures. In spite of usually fine grain size and intimate association with organic materials, biominerals are readily identified as common mineral species. Iron hydroxides and oxyhydroxides, calcium carbonates and calcium phosphates from uni- and multi-cellular species are presented as examples of biominerals, and biomineralization processes. Their special morphological, and crystal chemical, characteristics provide unique structural contributions to the life forms that create them. Investigations of novel habitats should present opportunities to expand the number of biominerals and their potential for industrial applications.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2005

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