To understand the true source of Zechstein Inside magnesium, let's examine the origin of magnesium as a mineral, where it comes from, and it's journey throughout the history of the world. What we discover may be a surprising revelation of our own quest for maintaining the fragile equilibrium and our path towards realizing ourselves as the "salt of the earth", or catalysts for good.
In the beginning
Magnesium is born in stars, when under extreme temperatures, helium and neon fuse. When stars explode as supernovas, magnesium is expelled into the interstellar medium and can bond with other metals eventually causing planets to form. Magnesium is the ninth most abundant element in the universe and eighth most abundant element on earth.
It is found in the earth’s crust and in the mantle, and is the third most abundant mineral dissolved in seawater with a 13% concentration.
magnesium - Life spark
Life. How did it begin? How did it start here on earth and whose hand made that very first spark happen? This is a mystery of our existence, and the answer to which we may never know. But what we do know is what defines living things as “living”, a process that takes place in every living cell and is called Chemiosmosis.
Chemiosmosis is the movement of ions across a semipermeable membrane, down their electrochemical gradient. Such as the generation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by the movement of hydrogen ions across a membrane during cellular respiration or photosynthesis.
Magnesium is what gives energy to cells to perform these processes.
Magnesium - life force
ATP, this spark of life, is the main source of energy in cells, must be bound to a magnesium ion in order to be biologically active. As such, magnesium plays a role in the stability of all polyphosphate compounds in the cells, including those associated with the synthesis of DNA and RNA.
Magnesium is an essential element in biological systems and is what gives cells the energy to perform the act of living. Magnesium is an essential mineral nutrient (element) for life and is present in every cell type in every organism, giving energy to make over 600 enzymatic reactions in our bodies possible.
Refferences:
- V. Zh. Adibekyan et al. (2012) "Overabundance of α-elements in exoplanet-hosting stars". A&A Volume 543.
- Leroy, J. (1926). "Necessite du magnesium pour la croissance de la souris". Comptes Rendus de Seances de la Societe de Biologie. 94: 431–433.
- Lusk, J.E.; Williams, R.J.P.; Kennedy, E.P. (1968). "Magnesium and the growth of Escherichia coli". Journal of Biological Chemistry. 243 (10): 2618–2624.
- Marschner, H. (1995). Mineral Nutrition in Higher Plants. San Diego: Academic Press.
- Jeroen F.H. de Baaij (2015) Magnesium in Man: Implications for Health and Disease.