Medical Mineralogy and Geochemistry: An Interfacial Science

Medical mineralogy and geochemistry is a highly interdisciplinary area of research where the complexity of minerals and mineral surface reactivity in the human body is emphasized. Research in this field will lead to an understanding of the biogeochemical processes responsible for medical conditions, both normal and pathological that involve the interaction of dissolved inorganic species and bioorganic molecules with minerals. In this article, I highlight some fundamental concepts and challenges in this endeavor, and the subsequent articles provide overviews of specific topics.