Biomineralization is the process by which living organisms produce minerals. It occurs through two main types: biologically controlled mineralization, where the organism controls mineral growth and placement, and biologically induced mineralization, where the organism modifies the environment to induce mineral formation. Calcium carbonate is a common biomineral found in marine organisms through photosynthesis raising the pH and carbonate concentration to precipitate calcium carbonate. Magnetite is also an important biomineral formed by magnetotactic bacteria, which synthesize chains of magnetic crystals called magnetosomes that act as a biological compass. Examples of other biogenic minerals include apatite in bones/teeth and iron oxides formed by various organisms.

1. GURUNANAK KHALSA
COLLEGE
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY (PAPER-2)
BY
SAKSHI MISHRA
M.Sc. PART-2 (SEM-3)

2. BIOMINIRALIZATION

3. WHAT IS BIOMINIRALIZATION
The synthesis of inorganic crystalline or
amorphous mineral-like materials by living
organisms.
Among the minerals synthesized biologically in
various forms of life are:
fluoroapatite,(Ca5(PO4)3(F,OH), hydroxyapatite,
magnetite (fe3o4) and calcium carbonate

4. TYPES OF BIOMINIRALIZATION
• Biologically controlled mineralization (BCM):
cellular activity controls growth, morphology and
location of deposition of the mineral.
• Biologically induced mineralization (BIM)
modification of chemical environment like change
in pH, or redox potential etc. Leads to
mineralization

5. CALCIUM CARBONATE BIOMINERAL
• Marine organisms such algae, sponges, corals, molluscs
form MgCO3 containing calcium carbonate in large
amounts as a photosynthetic activity. When CO2
dissolved in water is photosynthetically assimilated the
pH value of the surrounding medium rises according to
the concentration of CO3 increases and equillibrium in
shifted towards the precipitation of CaCO3.

6. Calcium carbonate is most abundant crystalline
biomineral in nature. In nature calcium carbonate
exists in several forms, calcite and aragonite as the
most common ones.
examples: carbonates in vertebrates, and calcium
phosphates and carbonates in vertebrates. These
mineral often form structural features such as sea
shells and the bone in mammals and birds.

8. IRON BIOMINERALS
• The biomineralization of iron oxides is a relatively well
documented field of bio-inorganic chemistry. IN ADDITION
TO THE IRON (III) HYDROXIDE CONDENSATION PRODUCTS,
BIOGENIC IRON OXIDE ALSO EXISTS IN THE FORM OF
MAGNETITE (Fe3O4).
• This FeIII,II – containing mineral was detected in the
magnetotactic bacteria, in chitos, molluscs, pigeons, bees,
fishes and even in humans .

9. CONT…
• In magnetotactic bacteria under an electron
microscope, dark, membrane-coated iron-
containing particles i.e. Magnetosomes observed.
• The magnetosomes are normally arranged as
chains along the direction of bacterial movement
so that this string of particles may function as
biomagnetic compass. TO FORM
MAGNETOSOMES IRON IS TAKEN AS CHELATED
Fe+3 AND THEN MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH
REDUCTION TO Fe+2. After controlled oxidation a
water containing iron(III) oxide precipitates,
dehydration first leads to ferrihydrite, and then
under partial reduction to magnetic

10. EXAMPLES OF BIOGENIC MINERALS
INCLUDE
• Apatite in bones and teeth
• Aragonite, calcite , fluorite in vestibular
systems (part of the inner ear) of vertebrates
• Magnetite and greigite formed by
Magnetotactic bacteria.

11. Pyrite and marcasite in sedimentary rocks
quartz and diamonds formed from bacterial
action on fossil fuels (gas, oil, coal)
hydroxylapatite formed by mitochondria

12. REFRENCES
• vogel’s Qualitative Inorganic Analysis 7th Edition
• Heinz A. LOWENSTAM, STEPHEN WEINER, OXFORD UNIVERSITY
PRESS.
• D.F. SHRIVER, P.W.ATKINS AND C.H. LANGFORD, INORGANIC
CHEMISTRY, 3RD EDITION OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS.
• Inorganic Chemistry By Gary L. Miessler , 3rd Edition
• INTERNET WEBSITES.