abiogenic

Abiogenic is an adjective meaning not produced by living organisms or biological activity; originating by non-biological, inorganic processes. The term is used across geology, chemistry, and planetary science to describe substances or processes whose origin is considered independent of life. It is related to abiogenesis, but abiogenic describes non-living origins of materials rather than the emergence of life itself.

Origin and usage: Abiogenic is often used in discussions of mineral formation, hydrocarbons, and prebiotic chemistry to distinguish non-biological sources from biogenic ones. It is also used in contexts such as abiotic synthesis and abiotic mineralization. In geology and geochemistry, the distinction helps categorize processes and products by their proposed source, whether life-related or not.

Examples: In geochemistry, abiogenic processes can produce minerals through inorganic precipitation and can generate hydrocarbons via catalytic reactions at high temperature and pressure, such as Fischer–Tropsch–type synthesis or serpentinization-driven reactions. The abiogenic petroleum hypothesis posits that some hydrocarbons can form without biological material; however, most crude oil and natural gas in Earth's crust are generally considered to be of biogenic origin, and the extent of abiogenic contributions remains debated and is typically regarded as minor in many basins.

In planetary science and astrobiology, abiogenic pathways for forming organic molecules are studied to understand potential non-biological chemistry that could precede or supplement life. These studies inform models of prebiotic chemistry, the interpretation of meteorites, and the chemistry of other planets and moons where life has not been detected.