The Laboratory of Crystallographic Studies (LEC, www.lec.csic.es) belongs to the Andalusian Institute of Land Science-IACT (mixed CSIC-UGR centre). The LEC specialises in studying problems relating to the crystallisation and crystallography of natural or synthetic materials, covering both the basic science and technological applications and development. The laboratory is particularly active in applied science projects developing technology, focusing mainly on producing new conceptual and technological tools for applying crystallographic knowledge in the form of both instrumentation (crystallisers, research into microgravity) and software (simulation, data analysis, crystallographic calculations).

The main lines of research are as follows:

- Crystallisation in natural media: Biomineralisation and biomimetic materials, and formation of mineral patterns.

- Industrial crystallisation.

- Crystallography and structural determination by X-ray diffraction.

- Development of applications of nucleation and physico-chemistry of crystalline growth.

- Study of the nucleation and physico-chemistry of crystalline growth.

- Chemical crystallography.

- Mineral self-organisation and origin of life.

Group website