Biominerals, their crystallography, and more updates from the Smithsonian NMNH – Dr. Gabriela Farfan

Biominerals are minerals that are formed through the help of biological metabolisms, whether on purpose or by accident. While they may not fall under the classic definition of a mineral, biominerals are incredibly important to life on Earth, global elemental cycles, technology, medicine, and so much more. In recent years, Dr. Gabriela Farfan and her team at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History have been uncovering new ways to study biominerals from a crystallographic perspective – a perspective that had been missing from the more common biologically-focused works on these unique bio-mineral composite materials.

Dr. Farfan is the Coralyn Whitney Curator of Gems and Minerals at NMNH. She splits her time between mineralogical research, collections, and mineral outreach. Gabriela’s presentation highlights both biominerals research as well as some recent additions to the National Gem and Mineral Collection. Her June 2024 presentation to the Mineralogical Society of the District of Columbia is titled, “What Crystallography Can Teach Us About Biominerals and Other Behind-the-Scenes Highlights at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History."

Like many gem and mineral aficionados, Dr. Farfan began collecting gems and minerals at an early age which led her to a career in mineralogy. She has visited over 30 mines across the U.S., Canada, and Chile and has enjoyed meeting miners, gem artists, and scientists during these adventures. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Geological and Environmental Sciences from Stanford University, she earned her Ph.D. in Geochemistry from the Joint Program of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

As a research curator and mineralogist, Gabriela studies the crystal structures and chemistry of minerals formed under varying conditions in order to answer questions in environmental mineralogy, biomineralization, and gem science. Her research primarily focuses on how aquatic biocarbonates (like coral skeletons, mollusk shells, and pearls) record shifting aquatic environments using crystallography coupled with trace element and isotope geochemistry. Dr. Farfan is honored to be a steward of the legendary Smithsonian collection.