Rocks may help fight climate change battle

Certain rocks abundant on the US East and West coasts may one day be coaxed to absorb emissions of the main greenhouse gas carbon dioxide at a rate that could slow climate change, scientists say.

"One day this could be an incredibly useful tool to help fight global warming," said Sam Krevor, the lead author of a new study by scientists at Columbia University's Earth Institute and the US Geological Survey that maps such rocks in the United States.

Scientists have long known that rocks naturally absorb carbon dioxide over thousands of years by binding it with minerals to form solids like calcium carbonate, a common substance found in rocks and the main component of snail shells and eggshells.