Sedimentary and diagenetic mineral archives (biogenic, abiogenic, organomineralic) span a vast time range from the Present back to the Precambrian world. The significance of these materials lies in their often time-resolved record that - via fabric, mineralogical or geochemical proxies - monitors ambient environmental parameters during secretion, precipitation, and subsequent stabilization. Recent advances shed light on a complex array of non-equilibrium processes (including metabolism) and the involvement of non-crystalline precursor phases that add significant complexity to this issue. Moreover, all mineral archives are subject to subsequent diagenetic alteration representing a significant obstacle in carbonate research. Here we invite a wide range of contributions involving theoretical, modelling, experimental, and field studies that contribute to a better understanding of mineral archives from their nucleation to stabilization.