B5: Biomineralization and implications for paleoceanography

(N. Gussone, Münster; J. Bijma, Bremerhaven; E. Hathorne, Bremen)

The chemistry of fossil biogenic minerals (shells and skeletons) produced by various marine organisms is widely used to reconstruct past ocean conditions employing proxies such as oxygen isotopes and trace element/Ca ratios. However, recent works utilising micro-analytical techniques, novel isotopic tracers (e.g., B, Ca or Mg isotopes) and culturing studies indicate a significant influence of biomineralization processes on the chemical composition of biogenic minerals. Thus, to interpret proxy records of past conditions from such biogenic archives with confidence requires at best a mechanistic understanding of biomineralization and at least the quantification of its influence. This session will explore new data and concepts concerning biomineralization and its influence on the biogenic mineral chemistry of various marine proxy archives including, but not exclusively, coccoliths, foraminifera and corals.