Mineral Radioactivity in Sands as a mechanism for fixation of organic carbon on the Earthly Earth

John Parnell

doi:10.1023/B:ORIG.0000043132.23966.a1

Mineral Radioactivity in Sands as a mechanism for fixation of organic carbon on the Earthly Earth

John Parnell

Geology and Geophysics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Irradiation of organic molecules by mineral radioactivity is a feasible alternative to cosmic irradiation to precipitate solid organic carbon-rich matter on the early Earth. Radioactive (uranium- and thorium-rich) minerals have been concentrated at the Earth's surface, and accumulated accretionary coatings of carbon due to irradiation, since early Archean times. The organic accretion process could have occurred at the surface or in the sub-surface, and is independent of a terrestrial or extraterrestrial source for the carbon.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	533-547
Number of pages	14
Journal	Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere
Volume	34
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ORIG.0000043132.23966.a1
Publication status	Published - 2004

Keywords

early Earth
habitable zones
irradiation
monazite
polymerization
rocky planets
NATURAL FISSION REACTORS
ISUA SUPRACRUSTAL BELT
PRIMORDIAL OIL-SLICK
WESTERN-AUSTRALIA
DETRITAL ZIRCONS
WITWATERSRAND BASIN
CONTINENTAL-CRUST
THERMAL EVOLUTION
PRIMITIVE EARTH
SOUTH-AFRICA

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title = "Mineral Radioactivity in Sands as a mechanism for fixation of organic carbon on the Earthly Earth",

abstract = "Irradiation of organic molecules by mineral radioactivity is a feasible alternative to cosmic irradiation to precipitate solid organic carbon-rich matter on the early Earth. Radioactive (uranium- and thorium-rich) minerals have been concentrated at the Earth's surface, and accumulated accretionary coatings of carbon due to irradiation, since early Archean times. The organic accretion process could have occurred at the surface or in the sub-surface, and is independent of a terrestrial or extraterrestrial source for the carbon.",

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author = "John Parnell",

year = "2004",

doi = "10.1023/B:ORIG.0000043132.23966.a1",

language = "English",

volume = "34",

pages = "533--547",

journal = "Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere",

issn = "0169-6149",

publisher = "Springer Netherlands",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Mineral Radioactivity in Sands as a mechanism for fixation of organic carbon on the Earthly Earth

AU - Parnell, John

PY - 2004

Y1 - 2004

N2 - Irradiation of organic molecules by mineral radioactivity is a feasible alternative to cosmic irradiation to precipitate solid organic carbon-rich matter on the early Earth. Radioactive (uranium- and thorium-rich) minerals have been concentrated at the Earth's surface, and accumulated accretionary coatings of carbon due to irradiation, since early Archean times. The organic accretion process could have occurred at the surface or in the sub-surface, and is independent of a terrestrial or extraterrestrial source for the carbon.

AB - Irradiation of organic molecules by mineral radioactivity is a feasible alternative to cosmic irradiation to precipitate solid organic carbon-rich matter on the early Earth. Radioactive (uranium- and thorium-rich) minerals have been concentrated at the Earth's surface, and accumulated accretionary coatings of carbon due to irradiation, since early Archean times. The organic accretion process could have occurred at the surface or in the sub-surface, and is independent of a terrestrial or extraterrestrial source for the carbon.

KW - early Earth

KW - habitable zones

KW - irradiation

KW - monazite

KW - polymerization

KW - rocky planets

KW - NATURAL FISSION REACTORS

KW - ISUA SUPRACRUSTAL BELT

KW - PRIMORDIAL OIL-SLICK

KW - WESTERN-AUSTRALIA

KW - DETRITAL ZIRCONS

KW - WITWATERSRAND BASIN

KW - CONTINENTAL-CRUST

KW - THERMAL EVOLUTION

KW - PRIMITIVE EARTH

KW - SOUTH-AFRICA

U2 - 10.1023/B:ORIG.0000043132.23966.a1

DO - 10.1023/B:ORIG.0000043132.23966.a1

M3 - Article

VL - 34

SP - 533

EP - 547

JO - Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere

JF - Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere

SN - 0169-6149

IS - 6

ER -

Mineral Radioactivity in Sands as a mechanism for fixation of organic carbon on the Earthly Earth

Abstract

Keywords

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