The survey of mineral sources on the earth is currently completed

The survey of mineral sources on the earth is currently completed

Understand life formation from the perspective of mineralology

Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, July 3 (Intern reporter Zhang Jiaxin) Each mineral has a history, and each stone tells a story. According to the two papers published by the monthly magazine of "American Mineral Sciences", a 15 -year study led by the Institute of Carnegie Science Institute in the United States detailed the origin and diversity of every known mineral on the planet. This It is a milestone work that will help rebuild the history of life on the planet, guide the finding new minerals and minerals, predict the possible characteristics of future life, and help find livable planets and extraterrestrial lives.

Researchers have determined 10556 "types of minerals", which is a new term that represents different mineral combinations and formation models. This number is about 75%higher than about 6,000 minerals recognized by the International Mineral Association according to the crystal structure and chemical composition.

Studies have found that 80%of minerals on the earth are regulated by water, which is vital to the diversity of minerals on the earth. This also explains why the moon, Mercury and even Mars are much less than the earth. Biological plays a direct or indirect role in the formation of about 50%of minerals. For example, by creating atmosphere rich in oxygen -rich, it leads to the formation of 2,000 minerals.

According to research, nature has created 40%of mineral species on the earth in more than one way. In general, minerals are formed in 57 different ways, including physical, chemical and/or biological processes. There are 3349 (59%) of minerals approved by the International Mineral Association (59%) from only one process (symbiotic model), 1372 species (24%) from two processes, 458 (8%) from three processes, and the rest of the rest 480 (8%) from four or more processes.

Yolin, also known as "Fools Gold", is the most formal way among all minerals. In the past 4.5 billion years, nature has used 21 different methods to create pyrite. It can be formed at high temperature and low temperature, water and waterless conditions. Formed in a harsh environment without effect.

Diamonds originated from 9 ways from outer space to the depths of the earth, including condensation in the cooling atmosphere of ancient stars, during meteorite impact, and at high temperature ultra -high pressure in the depths of the earth. These processes have led to different diamond variants.

The paper also wrote that the "large oxidation incident" of the earth about 2.3 billion years ago led to the formation of new minerals on the earth's near surface. About 4.45 billion years ago, when the water appeared for the first time, the earliest water -rock interaction may produce as many as 350 minerals in the near -land ocean and land environment.

This work also pointed out the direction for future research. For example, what mineral formation environment does the moon, Mars and other land worlds form? If Mars has (or still) a hydrological cycle, what kind of mineral performance will be there.

【Chief Editor Circle Point】

Water is the source of life, and water and creatures directly or indirectly affect the formation of minerals. In order to infer that a variety of mineral resources on the earth are inextricably linked to the rich water resources on the planet. Further thought, the water resources on different planets in the universe are very different, so mineral resources on different planets are likely to be different. In this case, is there a unique mineral species that other planets are not available on some planets? As for whether this is true, wait for the exploration of human planet mining to verify.

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