otolith mineralization completed early in development otoconia mineralization The formation of otoliths during embryogenesis with completion in early postembryonic development. Formation occurs by precipitation of specific crystal forms of calcium carbonate around an organic core of extracellular matrix proteins. Otoconia (otoliths) are small (~10 micron) dense extracellular particles present in the otolith end organs of the vertebrate inner ear. GO:0031173 biological_process otoconium mineralization otolith mineralization