2007 GSA Denver Annual Meeting (28–31 October 2007)

Paper No. 1
Presentation Time: 1:35 PM

HEALTH AND MINERALS


SKINNER, H. Catherine, GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS, YALE UNIVERSITY, BOX 208109, New Haven, CT 06521-8109, CATHERINE.SKINNER@YALE.EDU

Health and the well being of human populations is a reflection of the earth environment, a fact underscored by both sides of the scientific community: medical/dental professionals who work full time with the human condition and by earth scientists who have and continue to provide the basic understandings of the physical, chemical and biological world that directly impinge on the human existence.

We are, most basically, what we breathe, drink and eat, the specifics engendered by where and when we exist and the decisions we make to assure personal comfort.

This presentation will address the distinctions between geo- and bio-minerals and through examples, some of the health issues and the limited understandings we have of beneficial effects of minerals.