Division/Committee: [GEOC: Division of Geochemistry]

Mineral crystallization, aggregation, and dissolution represent crucial research domains spanning geochemistry, materials science, environmental engineering, and biomedicine. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms behind these processes is essential for designing and developing novel materials, as well as predicting and controlling mineral formation in both environmental and industrial contexts. For instance, unraveling the crystallization, aggregation, and dissolution of iron (oxyhydr)oxide minerals in natural environments is of enduring interest due to its impact on regulating global biogeochemical cycles of various elements such as C, O, N, and S. The fast-paced growth of this field brings forth a challenge the need to establish a fundamental understanding of interactions among ions, molecules, complexes, clusters, and/or nanoparticles in a growth medium, and the resulting response dynamics. This session aims to address this challenge by highlighting contributions related to: 1) dynamic changes of nanomineral reactivity throughout nucleation, crystal growth, aggregation, and dissolution; 2) the influence of additives on mineral crystallization, aggregation, and dissolution; 3) computational modeling and simulation of mineral crystallization, aggregation, and dissolution; 4) in-situ observation of mineral crystallization, aggregation, and dissolution; 5) crystallization pathways in biomineralization; and 6) thermodynamic and kinetic parameters controlling mineral formation, alteration, and dissolution.

Xin Zhang

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Appearances