An explosion of never-before-seen minerals could mark the dawn of a new geological epoch

Simonkolleite - an anthropogenic mineral. Credit: RRUFF

Scientists have identified a sudden explosion of mineral diversity on the surface of our planet that would not exist if it weren't for humans, adding weight to the argument that we're living in a new geological epoch - the Anthropocene.

A new study has found that the incredible upsurge of new minerals around the time of the industrial revolution led to the unprecedented diversification of crystals on Earth, eclipsing even the Great Oxidation Event 2.3 billion years ago as the "greatest increase in the history of the globe".

The research has been published in American Mineralogist.