Home Page Science Frontiers
ONLINE

No. 66: Nov-Dec 1989

Issue Contents





Other pages



 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

 

Biogenic Minerals

We generally think of minerals as having been formed by purely inorganic processes. Only once, on p.000. where biogenic stalactites were described, have we persued the idea that minerals, including crystal forms, might be biogenic. We now have at hand a survey of biogenic minerals. It turns out that biogenic minerals are quite common - so common, in fact, that the Gaia concept is recalled, in which biological processes preside over much that happens upon this planet.

Here follows a sampler of some biogenic minerals:

(Dietrich, R.V., and Chamberlain, Steven C.; "Are Cultured Pearls Mineral?" Rocks and Minerals, 64:386, September/October 1989. Cr. R. Calais)

From Science Frontiers #66, NOV-DEC 1989. � 1989-2000 William R. Corliss