Geochemical Role of Living Matter (Biogenic Migration)

Abstract

It was Vernadskii who showed that living organisms are important a ents controlling the miration of chemical elements within the supergene zone. It is the totality of all living organisms that makes an impression on the environment, and not any single living being. Vernadskii called this total the “living matter.” One can speak of the living matter of all land or may limit the discussion to some smaller area — a hilltop or a stratigraphic suite. The total mass of living matter on the earth is many times smaller than the mass of rocks. However, living matter is being constantly creatgd and destroyed, with the result that enormous quantities pf atoms become involved in it.