A 15-year study details the origins and diversity of every known mineral on Earth, a landmark body of work that will help reconstruct the history of life on Earth, guide the search for new minerals and ore deposits, predict possible characteristics of future life, and aid the search for habitable planets and extraterrestrial life.
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Tau.Neutrino said:
Crushed, zapped, boiled, baked and more: Nature used 57 recipes to create Earth’s 10,500-plus ‘mineral kinds’A 15-year study details the origins and diversity of every known mineral on Earth, a landmark body of work that will help reconstruct the history of life on Earth, guide the search for new minerals and ore deposits, predict possible characteristics of future life, and aid the search for habitable planets and extraterrestrial life.
more…
Very interesting study.
This appears to formalise an understanding that is taught, or rather, developed in students, during undergraduate geology studies.
Tau.Neutrino said:
Crushed, zapped, boiled, baked and more: Nature used 57 recipes to create Earth’s 10,500-plus ‘mineral kinds’A 15-year study details the origins and diversity of every known mineral on Earth, a landmark body of work that will help reconstruct the history of life on Earth, guide the search for new minerals and ore deposits, predict possible characteristics of future life, and aid the search for habitable planets and extraterrestrial life.
more…
I once read a book, an excellent book about mineral formation.
It went in detail through the formulas involved in producing igneous minerals.
The greater number of formulas involved in producing metamorphic minerals.
The even greater number of formulas involved in producing hydrated minerals.
And the still greater number of formulas involved in which life plays a role in producing minerals.
57 seems about right, though the book may have described only about 30.
That book gave me a great insight into how we have far more minerals on Earth than on the Moon No minerals from hydration or life.
And more minerals on Earth than on Mars. No life.
If I knew which book it was, I’d buy it.