Mineralization vesicle composition

The great importance of minerals in prebiotic chemical reactions is undisputed. Interactions between mineral surfaces and organic molecules, and their influence on self-organisation processes, have been the subject of much study. New results from Szostak and co-workers show that the formation of vesicles is not limited to one type of mineral, but can involve various types of surfaces. Different minerals were studied in order to find out how particle size, particle shape, composition and charge can influence vesicle formation. Thus, for example, montmorillonite (Na and K10), kaolinite, talc, aluminium silicates, quartz, perlite, pyrite, hydrotalcite and Teflon particles were studied. Vesicle formation was catalysed best by aluminium solicate, followed by hydrotalcite, kaolinite and talcum (Hanczyc et al., 2007). 

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