Nov 21 2008
The Evolution of Rocks
In another blow to the Genesis myth scientists have recently discovered that the Mineral Kingdom Has Co-evolved With Life.
Say what? Minerals evolve? The Earth wasn’t finished on the second day and then populated with animal life?
What ultimately had the biggest impact on mineral evolution, however, was the origin of life, approximately 4 billion years ago. “Of the approximately 4,300 known mineral species on Earth, perhaps two thirds of them are biologically mediated,” says Hazen. “This is principally a consequence of our oxygen-rich atmosphere, which is a product of photosynthesis by microscopic algae.” Many important minerals are oxidized weathering products, including ores of iron, copper and many other metals.
Cool. You learn something new every day. Well, if you’re looking to, anyway.
I do question, however, the use of the word “species” for mineral types. As I wonder whether we can say they evolved vs. developed. Nonetheless, a very interesting finding.
