Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Catalyzed Synthesis Of Zinc Clays By Prebiotic Central Metabolites, Marcelo I. Guzman, Ruixin Zhou, Kaustuv Basu, Hyman Hartman, Christopher J. Matocha, S. Kelly Sears, Hajatollah Vali

Chemistry Faculty Publications

How primordial metabolic networks such as the reverse tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle and clay mineral catalysts coevolved remains a mystery in the puzzle to understand the origin of life. While prebiotic reactions from the rTCA cycle were accomplished via photochemistry on semiconductor minerals, the synthesis of clays was demonstrated at low temperature and ambient pressure catalyzed by oxalate. Herein, the crystallization of clay minerals is catalyzed by succinate, an example of a photoproduced intermediate from central metabolism. The experiments connect the synthesis of sauconite, a model for clay minerals, to prebiotic photochemistry. We report the temperature, pH, and concentration dependence …

Some Kentucky Clays, Including Kaolinic, Plastic And Fire Clays: Clays In Several Parts Of Kentucky, With Some Account Of Sands, Marls And Limestones, Aug Foerste, James H. Gardner

Bulletin--KGS

The bulletin is preliminary in character and is offered now simply in order to meet the urgent calls for all information concerning our clays that is at present available. A more comprehensive report, in which not only the geology and distribution of our clays, but also their technological values, will be given, will follow in due course.

Data for such a bulletin are being gathered as rapidly as circumstances will permit. Among the clays upon which more field work is required are some of those associated with the coals and Conglomerate Measures of the Eastern Coalfield; those in other Lower …