INTRODUCTION. Evolution: What does it mean?

The philosophical term “Evolution” (Fig. 1) is derived from Latin “evolutio” (development). The Earth sciences borrowed it from biology. There are two periods in the history of this term in geology. At first, the principle of “actualism” (uniformitarianism) of Charles Lyell (1830) dominated. According to it, the character of a geologic process is unchangeable through time and space (Fig. 1A). In the 1950s, decisive geologic evidence demolished the principle of actualism, implying that the character of geologic process depends on the period of the Earth’s existence (Fig. 1B). The new concept formulated as “Evolution of Geologic Processes” (“Evolution of geologic processes in the history of the Earth” 1993) was supported by geological data. This change in the interpretation of geologic processes parallels the transition from linearity (Fig. 2A) to non-linearity (Fig. 2B). The principle of non-linearity implies that there is an internal process controlling coefficient “k” - “nomogenesis”, “autogenesis”. Given the process, there should be certain algorithm controlling it, i.e. the law of alteration of mineral matter.

Fig. 1 Principle of “actualism” (uniformitarianism) (A) and “evolution of geologic processes” (B).

Fig. 2 Mathematical expression of linear (A) and non-linear (B)
principles in interpretation of geologic processes.

It’s appropriate once more to compare two closely related sciences: biology and geology. For a long time these sciences, dealing with a living and an unanimated constituents of the natural matter, have been developing within a framework of classification and systematization. In the 1950s Nobel Prize winners F. Crick, M. Wilkins and J.D. Watson proposed the structure of DNA as a law of development of living matter, thus making it science. Is there its own law of development, otherwise the own “DNA”, in mineral matter? A positive answer to this question follows from the viewpoint on the existence of natural matter as a single entity (Fig. 3).

           Fig. 3 Holism of natural matter.

DNA was discovered using X-ray diffraction applied to the fine internal structure of a cell, the smallest “building block” of living matter. Therefore, it seems reasonable to look for “DNA” of mineral matter at the ultramicroscopic level of its arrangement. This level fits the “real structure” of natural minerals. By this term we mean a crystal structure of a mineral with various distortions of a lattice in contrast to a regular atomic packing of an ideal crystal. 

References

Evolution of geological processes in the history of the Earth. (1993). (ed. N.P. Laverov). Nauka, Moscow [in Russian]

Lyell, Ch. (1854). Principles of Geology; or the modern changes of the Earth and its inhabitants considered as illustrative of geology. 9^th rev. ed. New York: Appleton.

CONCLUSION. The concept of the Earth as a single entity

Returning to the main subject of this study, namely, what the evolution of the mineral matter is (Introduction), we are now ready to answer this question. The aqua-complex, discovered same as DNA at the nano-scale level of organization of the natural (mineral, in the case) matter, has proven to be that missing link, which allows integrating the mineral and living components into the objective reality of the single natural matter. The role of the aqua-complex in the mineral realm, analogous to DNA in the living matter, provides a basis to define it as a law of the mineral matter development, hence as a law of its evolution.

With the discovery of DNA genetics came into being, dramatically changing biology as a science. It is also true for geology. It should be expected that understanding the law of evolution of mineral matter will change the modern geology, which consists of autonomous in many respects scientific domains (the Earth’s sciences), towards the cognition of the Earth’s life as a single whole. The concept of aqua-complex as the law of alteration of the mineral matter, within a single process of evolution, reveals a hidden relationship between such known geological processes as tectonics, metamorphism, magmatism, hydrothermal and metasomatic activities. Formation of mineral deposits regardless of their specialization (ore, oil and gas, diamond) is also an integral part of the unified process of rock matter alteration. All sum of geologic evidence confirms this statement. 

Another fundamental issue related to the deeper understanding of the word “Evolution” refers to the non-linearity in geological processes, which implies the existence of a certain internal algorithm of the development, i.e. controlling coefficient “k” (“nomogenesis”, “autogenesis”) (Fig.1C, Introduction). The three-partite, Ox — Red structure of the aqua-complex itself, mechanism of mineral matter alteration and the useful elements concentration in deposits, as well as many other data suggest that Redox is just that factor, which governs the evolution.

Based on the energy and informative properties of the water, which is the shortest natural Ox — Red bridge (Section 7.5.2), this answer to the fundamental question of the Earth’s sciences: what is the energy source for geological processes? The entire set of geological and experimental data prove the energy role of Redox in the continuous motion of the rock matter. This apparently follows from the fractal organization of mineral matter traced from the ultramicroscopic level of dissipative structures in minerals to the global scale of the tectonic ensembles. The universal energy background of the aqua-complex, as a law of evolution of the mineral matter, is in harmony with the statement of W. Heisenberg (1962) that “Energy may be called the fundamental cause for all change in the world”.

This idea is confirmed by that the aqua-complex is an informal counterpart of DNA in the mineral realm, since in both the acidic and basic parts are bound via hydrogen bonds. Thus, it is the energy (and informative) properties of the hydrogen bond are the base for the combining of the bio- and inert components into a single whole of the natural matter.

This way of thinking is a step forward to understanding the true role of human civilization on the Earth. The idea of Vernadskii about the “Noosphere” (The Earth’s sphere of reason), the I. Prigogine’s appeal (1984) to engage in dialogue with the Nature, “the open world, which we all belong”, strongly suggest the need to harmonize the human’s activity with the Earth’s laws. After all, the past and present of the Earth, this book is devoted to, suggest that our planet has supremely greater harmonizing power, than a man, and hence – LIVES.

THE LIVING EARTH

The blue blood*)

The metals to the organs brings,

Reserves filling, but

The «Homo sapiens» this puzzle thinks.

The breezing drives a gas from lungs:

Voluminous and many-stored,

The oil in closed chambers bubbles,

The thoughts of bravers looking forward.

Her gall-stones disease

By diamonds is shining.

Will scientist cognize at least

On whose bosom he’s sighing?

*) «Water is a living blood of the Earth» (Leonardo da Vinci)

References

W. Heisenberg (1962) “Physics and Philosophy: The Revolution in Modern science”, New York: Harper & Row, p.63.

Prigogine, I. and Stengers, I. (1984) Order out of chaos. Heinemann. London