Contribution of Clay Minerals to Chemical Evolution

Abstract

The contribution of clay minerals to the chemical evolution in the early eath was reviewed. The roles of the clay mineral in the chemical evolution have been studied since Bernal (1949) suggested that the clay mineral was one of important materials to the origin of life. Many reseachers showed that the clay mineral in the process of the chemical evolution adsorbed an organic compound, concentrated it and acted as a catalyst to synthesize an organic molecule from inorganic molecules and to polymerize the organic molecule. A new possible utility of clay minerals, for example a cell made of a clay mineral is introdced here.