How oxygen created thousands of new minerals on Earth

>2,500 Of ~4,500 Minerals

Oxygen helped create more than half of Earth’s known minerals

Before oxygen became common on Earth, many minerals that need oxygen could not form. The Great Oxidation Event is estimated to have helped create more than 2,500 of roughly 4,500 known minerals. A change in the air greatly increased the variety of minerals on the planet.

Georgia’s clay-jar wine method is UNESCO-listed

Georgia’s traditional method uses clay jars called qvevri to make wine, and it is listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. Archaeological evidence also places grape growing and wine production in Georgia thousands of years ago.

Extra carbon dioxide makes it harder for many sea creatures to build shells

The ocean absorbs a substantial share of the carbon dioxide released by human activity. Dissolved CO₂ changes seawater chemistry, reducing the availability of carbonate ions used by corals and many shell-building organisms. The water is still alkaline, but its declining pH can make building and maintaining calcium carbonate structures more difficult.

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How oxygen created thousands of new minerals on Earth

Oxygen helped create more than half of Earth’s known minerals

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