The process and mechanism of biomineralization and relevant
physicochemical properties of mineral crystals are remarkably
sophisticated multidisciplinary fields that include biology, chemistry,
physics, and materials science. The components of the organic matter,
structural construction of minerals, and related mechanical interaction,
etc., could help to reveal the unique nature of the special
mineralization process. Herein, the paper provides an overview of the
biomineralization process from the perspective of molecular vibrational
spectroscopy, including the physicochemical properties of biomineralized
tissues, from physiological to applied mineralization. These
physicochemical characteristics closely to the hierarchical
mineralization process include biological crystal defects, chemical
bonding, atomic doping, structural changes, and content changes in
organic matter, along with the interface between biocrystals and organic
matter as well as the specific mechanical effects for hardness and
toughness. Based on those observations, the special physiological
properties of mineralization for enamel and bone, as well as the
possible mechanism of pathological mineralization and calcification such
as atherosclerosis, tumor micro mineralization, and urolithiasis are
also reviewed and discussed. Indeed, the clearly defined physicochemical
properties of mineral crystals could pave the way for studies on the
mechanisms and applications.