Summary: Fossils are essential to the reconstruction of the evolution of life and episodes in Earth history. Knowledge of biomineralization - the processes associated with the formation of mineralized biological structures - is essential to properly evaluate data derived from fossils. This book emphasizes skeletal formation and fossilization in a geologic framework in order to understand evolution, relationships between fossil groups, and the use of biomineral materials as geochemical proxies for understanding ancient oceans and climates. The focus is on shells and skeletons of calcareous organisms, and the book explores the fine structures and mode of growth of the characteristic crystalline units, taking advantage of most recent physical methodological advances. The book is richly illustrated and will be of great interest to advanced students and researchers in paleontology, Earth history, evolution, sedimentology, geochemistry, and materials science.

The concept of microstructural sequence exemplified by mollusc shells and coral skeletons : similarity of growth mode and skeletogenesis at the micrometer scale -- Compositional data on mollusc shells and coral skeletons : mineral and organic components viewed from overall characteristics to localized measurements -- Origin of microstructural diversity : facts and conjectures regarding the control of crystallization during skeletogenesis -- Diversity of structural patterns and and growth modes in skeletal Ca-carbonate of some plants and animals : the contrast between architectural and microstructural diversity at the macroscale and similarities at the submicrometer scale -- Connecting the layered growth and crystallization model to chemical and physiological approaches : ongoing conceptual changes in biocalcification -- Microcrystalline and amorphous biominerals in bones, teeth and siliceous structures : data illustrating the nature of calcareous biocrystals -- Collecting better data from the fossil record through the critical analysis of fossilized biominerals : case studies ranging from the interpretation of individual samples to the distribution of fossils through time.

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