title: Mixed-valence hydroxides as bioorganic host minerals.
abstract: A range of naturally occurring divalent-trivalent metal cation hydroxides and modified artificial analogs have been synthesized and characterized.  Structural and chemical properties of these minerals, determining their capability to selectively concentrate, order and alter molecules of prebiotic interest, include their anion exchange capacity and specificity, photochemical reactivity, production of nascent hydrogen, and catalytic efficiency.  Properties relevant to these functions have been investigated and are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0220, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuma
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Paplawsky
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gedulin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arrhenius
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000737:chemistry*; D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000032:analysis; D000838:Anions; D002712:Chlorides / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077215:Clay; D004602:Elements; D019418:Evolution, Chemical; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D058085:Iron Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D008345:Manganese / Q000737:chemistry; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000838:Anions; D002712:Chlorides; D004602:Elements; D006878:Hydroxides; D058085:Iron Compounds; D008903:Minerals; D008345:Manganese; D000535:Aluminum; D000077215:Clay