Rocks organic or inorganic?

Misspeled_Name

After a long non conclusive debate with several people about rocks being inorganic or organic, I thought that I might get better answers here. The average person (including myself until a while back) would consider a rock inorganic right? But if you look at the Merriam Webster's Dictionary under inorganic you should find this;

1 a (1) : being or composed of matter other than plant or animal : MINERAL (2) : forming or belonging to the inanimate world b : of, relating to, or dealt with by a branch of chemistry concerned with substances not usually classed as organic
2 : not arising from natural growth : ARTIFICIAL; also : lacking structure, character, or vitality (dull inorganic things, without individuality or prestige— John Buchan)

So this would lead you to believe rocks could not be an inorganic material, for rocks are made up of organic material that has hardened over many years and fossilized. Something such as a diamond could not even be inorganic in reality, since a diamond is nothing but coal and if you look at the definition below it shows that coal comes directly from organic material.

Coal:
3 a : a black or brownish black solid combustible substance formed by the partial decomposition of vegetable matter without free access of air and under the influence of moisture and often increased pressure and temperature that is widely used as a natural fuel

So from this evidence I would think it is safe to consider the average rock organic.

- Misspeled_Name

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pootsie

MY BRAIN HURTS!

No need to think so hard.

The word "organic" has many, many meanings. To a chemist, "organic" means "contains carbon." This is not what a bonsai enthusiast means when using the word "organic" to discuss soil.

When talking about soil, we say "organic" to mean "not rock" or "not mineral."

Ergo:
pine bark, worm castings, peat == organic
haydite, turface, pumice != organic.

Now stop thinking so hard.

pootsie

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p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
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lordy611

I think Pootsie meant that haydite, turface, pumice are INorganic.
And for what it's worth I think you misinterpereted the Webster words:

1 a (1) : being or composed of matter other than plant or animal : MINERAL (2) : forming or belonging to the inanimate world b : of, relating to, or dealt with by a branch of chemistry concerned with substances not usually classed as organic
2 : not arising from natural growth : ARTIFICIAL; also : lacking structure, character, or vitality

I dont understand how you went from the above passage to 'rocks not being inorganic'. I agree with Pootsie in that it seems you've overanalyzed this one.

pootsie

Lordy, I think my short hand confused you

"==" means equal, or "is"
"!=" means not equal, or "is not"
Relational operator reference

"!=" is a shortcut for ≠, the "not equal" sign

So, "turface != organic" means ...
"Turface is not organic" ...

... at least as far as concerns bonsai practice.

pootsie

__________________
p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society

Misspeled_Name

I don't know, I thought it was interesting. But the term would exclude rocks as inorganic "not arising from natural growth".

- Misspeled_Name

__________________
"When practicing the art of bonsai, Not only are you growing a tree, but the tree is growing you"

- $h@rKByte -

CONSTRUCTION
(!UNDER CONSTRUCTION!)