Plant Opals Are Gemstones Made by Plants

Function

Plant opal is a type of small, glassy stone that can be found growing inside the cells of some plants, such as poaceae, a family of grasses. After the plant dies and withers away, these stones remain semi-permanently in the soil. These stones are too small to see without a microscope, but they come in a variety of attractive shapes, depending on the species of plant.

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Resouce/Energy/Information Transmission & Production:
Mineral formation

Environmental Solution Classification

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Technical Application

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Proposals of Applied Technology

With our current technology, creating glass requires heat well over 1000°C. Generating this heat consumes a great deal of energy and produces substantial amounts of carbon dioxide. On the other hand, these plants are able to create and leave behind a glass-like substance using very little energy and with minimal negative impact on the environment. Perhaps these plants contain hints to a better, more environmentally-friendly glass production process.

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