Minerals Rocked On

In the solar system’s primordial dust existed all of the chemical elements. Yet, from them, only about a dozen mineral species initially formed.

So, what happened from 2.5 billion years ago to now, when about 4,300 minerals are known to exist?

The answer is evolution.

How can this be? Minerals are not living organisms. They don’t reproduce, mutate or compete for survival. We…