The mineral olivine may not appear to be much more than a pretty green rock, but its uses extend far beyond gems and jewelry.
Northeastern University graduate student Jenna Woods, whose undergraduate co-op took her to Milan to study the mineral, said olivine could become an important part of the global solution to climate change.
The mineral plays a crucial role in the carbon cycle, which regulates the Earth’s temperature, Woods said. When the rock comes in contact with carbon dioxide and water in the atmosphere, it undergoes a chemical process that helps remove carbon from the atmosphere. For our carbon-rich planet and in the context of excess carbon dioxide emissions, having an abundance of olivine could be a significant advantage for carbon removal.
Read more at Northeastern Global News
Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
