E

This session aims to promote knowledge exchange focused on biomineralization: i.e. the biological component in the formation of hard tissues such as shells and skeletal structures. Specifically, the session seeks to explore the incorporation of major elements and fractionation of isotopes during formation of biomineralized materials, and explore the paleoceanographic application of these proxies. 

Over geologic time, various organisms use biomineralization to produce a great diversity of minerals, including as calcium carbonate, silicate glass, calcium phosphate and iron oxide. These minerals are precipitated in controlled microenvironments to form specialized structures in the form of shells and (exo)skeletons. Although many aspects of the biomineralization process have remained a mystery, recent advancements in observation technologies have begun to reveal the intricate architectures and sophisticated construction processes at a molecular level.

In paleoenvironmental reconstructions, there is a growing trend towards utilizing multi-proxy approaches by combining biomineral-based proxies, organic fossils, and sedimentary elemental analysis. While such multi-faceted interpretations hold the potential for robust environmental reconstructions, they also require a comprehensive understanding of various biases. These biases include the landscapes or settings in which the biogenic remnants were formed, the taphonomy, and influences from organisms, particularly when their shells or skeletal configurations find no preservation within sediments, possibly due to dissolution processes.

In light of the above, this session invites submissions related to research based on field investigations, culture experiments and other experimental and analytical methods in this field. The focus should be on biomineralization, calibration, and evaluation of marine/aquatic proxies and their applications in paleoenvironmental reconstructions.