Biomineralogy is the study of the inorganic materials produced by living organisms. It focuses on how organisms, such as corals, mollusks, and plants, create minerals through biological processes. These minerals can include calcium carbonate in shells and silica in certain algae, which play essential roles in their structure and function. This field combines aspects of geology, biology, and chemistry to understand the mechanisms behind biomineral formation. Researchers investigate how these processes influence the environment and contribute to the Earth's mineral resources, as well as their potential applications in fields like medicine and materials science.