abiogenic
Not from organisms
Abiogenic describes something not originating from living organisms.
The term appears most often in geology and chemistry, where abiogenic processes create substances without biological involvement.
The abiogenic theory of petroleum proposes that oil forms from deep carbon deposits rather than ancient organic matter—a minority view among scientists.
Not from living matter
- non-livingNot possessing life
- nonlivingNot alive
- syntheticProduced artificially, not natural
- chemicalSubstance with defined composition
mineral · geochemical · thermochemical · catalytic · oxidation · reduction · sulfides · carbonates
Covering or wrap
- primordialExisting from the start
- thermogenicProducing metabolic warmth
- hydrothermalHot water underground
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
hydrocarbons · non-biological · origin · outgassing · crustal · geochemical
Life spreads via space rocks
- astrophysicalOf space physics
- prebioticNutrient for gut bacteria
- meteoriticOf space rock origin
- interstellarBetween celestial bodies
cosmic · primordial · extraterrestrial · nucleotides · amino acids · origin of life · planetary · nebular
Produced artificially, not natural
- artificialMade, not natural
- man-madeCreated by humans
- manufacturedMade by machinery
- fabricatedInvented, not real
engineered · synthetic fuels · laboratory · chemical process · non-renewable
inorganic
Not from living matter
- non-livingNot possessing life
- nonlivingNot alive
- syntheticProduced artificially, not natural
chemical · mineral · geochemical · thermochemical · catalytic · oxidation · reduction · sulfides · carbonates · silicates
mantle
Covering or wrap
- primordialExisting from the start
- thermogenicProducing metabolic warmth
- hydrothermalHot water underground
methane · hydrocarbons · non-biological · origin · outgassing · crustal · geochemical
panspermia
Life spreads via space rocks
- astrophysicalOf space physics
- prebioticNutrient for gut bacteria
- meteoriticOf space rock origin
interstellar · cosmic · primordial · extraterrestrial · nucleotides · amino acids · origin of life · planetary · nebular
synthetic
Produced artificially, not natural
- artificialMade, not natural
- man-madeCreated by humans
- manufacturedMade by machinery
fabricated · engineered · synthetic fuels · laboratory · chemical process · non-renewable
abiogenicbiogenic
Produced by organisms
biotic · organic · biological · living · biosynthetic