Abstract
It is hypothesized that there is a close relationship between the geologic evolution of the global plates of the Earth's crust and the chemical evolution of life on the Earth. Characteristics of the axes of plate spreading are discussed in relation to postulated environments conducive to the synthesis of chemical compounds thought to be important biological precursors. Likely locations forin situ measurements to test the hypothesis are identified.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bischoff, J. L.: 1969, inHot Brines and Recent Heavy Metal Deposits in the Red Sea (E. T. Degens and D. A. Ross, eds.), Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 368–401.
Brewer, P. G., Densmore, C D., Munns, R., and Stanley, R. J.,Ibid., pp. 138–147.
Craig, H. and Lupton, J. E.: 1975, Unpublished Paper, AGU Symposium on the Nature of the Ocean Crust, La Jolla, California.
Harada, K., Hare, P. E., Windsor, C. R., and Fox, S. W.: 1971,Science 173, 433–435.
Hargraves, R. B.: 1976,Science,193, 363–371.
Kenyon, D. H. and Steinman, G.: 1969,Biochemical Predestination, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York.
Kvenholden, K. A., Lawless, J., Pering, K., Peterson, E., Flores, J., and Ponnamperauma, C.: 1970,Nature,228, 923–926.
Miller, S. L.: 1953,Science 117, 528–529.
Mukhin, L.: 1974,Nature,251, 50–51.
Ross, D. A.: 1972,Science,175, 1455–1457.
Ryan, W. B. F., Thorndike, E. M., Ewing, M., and Ross, D. A.: 1969, inHot Brines and Recent Heavy Metal Deposits in the Red Sea (E. T. Degens and D. A. Ross, eds.), Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 153–157.
Swinnerton, J. W. and Linnenbom, V. J.:Ibid., pp. 251–253.
Watson, S. W. and Waterbury, J. B.:Ibid., pp. 272–281.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ingmanson, D.E., Dowler, M.J. Chemical evolution and the evolution of the Earth's crust. Origins Life Evol Biosphere 8, 221–224 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00930683
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00930683