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Initially, Earth’s early solar system featured just a few dozen minerals that originated during planet formation. As Earth evolved, mineral diversity expanded dramatically. The timeline shows an increase from a handful of minerals to hundreds, then thousands, reflecting a growth in complexity and patterns within Earth's crust and mantle.
The narrative continues with the emergence of life: as biological processes appeared, they triggered the formation of an additional array of minerals, adding thousands more to Earth's mineral inventory. This process exemplifies mineral evolution, where diversity isn't static but progressively increases, showcasing patterns of growth akin to biological evolution.