Biomineralization: Fungi

This lecture explores the interactions between life and minerals, focusing on biomineralization in the fungal kingdom. It covers the process by which living forms influence mineral precipitation, the evolution of minerals in various organisms, and the role of fungi in biogeochemical transformations. The lecture delves into the formation of vadose calcite by fungi, the origin and ultrastructural features of needle fiber calcite, and the controversial biotic or abiotic origins of nanofibers. It also discusses the fungal cell wall as a source of nanofibers and the association of nanofibers with needle fiber calcite. The lecture concludes by examining the oxalate-carbonate pathway and its implications for the carbon cycle and soil chemistry.