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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 the formation of biomineralized materials and the paleoceanographic applications of these proxies.
Over geologic time, various organisms have used biomineralization to produce a great diversity of minerals, including calcium carbonate, silicate glass, calcium phosphate, and iron oxide. These minerals precipitate 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 the molecular level.
In paleoenvironmental reconstructions, there is a growing trend toward 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 geological/oceanographic settings in which biogenic remnants were formed, taphonomic processes, and influences from organisms-particularly when their shells or skeletal configurations are not preserved in 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 the biomineralization, calibration, and evaluation of aquatic proxies and their applications in modern and paleo environmental reconstructions.