Paleobiological and Mineralogical Signatures of Taphonomic Processes in Sedimentary Basins
A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2026 | Viewed by 59
Special Issue Editors
Interests: ichnology; taphonomy; paleontology
Interests: taphonomy; ichnology; paleoecology; stratigraphy
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue seeks to advance our understanding of how taphonomic processes influence the preservation and transformation of biological materials within geological contexts. We welcome contributions that investigate the biotic and abiotic factors shaping fossilization, with particular attention paid to chemical alteration, mineral precipitation, and environmental conditions during or following the burial of biological remains or trace fossils. Studies that integrate fossil data with analytical techniques—such as Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, or geochemical mapping—are especially encouraged. The goal is to unravel how biological features are retained, modified, or obliterated under varying depositional conditions. Case studies from diverse stratigraphic and geographic contexts are welcome, particularly those that link paleobiological evidence with mineralogical and geochemical data to interpret preservation pathways and support the search for biosignatures in extraterrestrial environments. This interdisciplinary Special Issue aims to bridge the gap between paleontological observations and mineralogical processes, offering a comprehensive view of how the fossil record is filtered by taphonomic changes. Ultimately, it provides a platform to refine interpretations of past ecosystems—on Earth and other worlds—by establishing a better understanding of preservation bias and transformation mechanisms.
Dr. Daniel Sedorko
Dr. Herminio Ismael Araujo Junior
Prof. Dr. Renato Pirani Ghilardi
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- fossilization pathways
- biostratinomy
- diagenetic alteration
- geochemical proxies
- analytical techniques
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