Goldschmidt Day 2. The minerals that feed the world 🍔
CHONPS. These six letters symbolize the key elements of life on Earth. While we learn their significance in high school, it is during our mineralogy courses that they become intriguing. Among these elements, phosphorus stands out. It is as a crucial component of cell walls, nucleic acids, and the energy currency ATP, essential for cellular functions across all living organisms.
However, the selection of phosphorus by living organisms raises many questions. When delving into mineralogy we discover that phosphorus (P) probably was not the most practical choice. With an abundance of only 1,000 ppm, similar to manganese, phosphorus does not rank among the top 10 most prevalent elements in the Earth’s crust. Can you imagine manganese as the central element in life?.
The study of the P-cycle has become a focal point in geochemistry. This significance was evident in the great session I attended today—Session 10b (Biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus in modern and ancient aquatic systems)
During this session, I had the privilege of listening to several remarkable talks that shed light on the formation of phosphorus-rich minerals, predominantly phosphates (but not only). Our colleagues discussed the mechanisms through which living organisms assimilate inorganic phosphorus and its eventual return to the geosphere. Additionally, the session delved into the hidden reservoirs of phosphorus in ecosystems, the profound impact of human activities on the global phosphorus cycle, and its evolution throughout Earth’s history.
A great session for this almost 40ºC tuesday in Lyon!