Quin R. S. Miller, Madeline F. Bartels, Harshvardhan Chopra, Charles T. Depp, Stephanie G. DiRaddo, Marie N. M. Gibson, Nabajit Lahiri, Vincent R. Lamberti, Nora Lopez Rivera, Katherine L. Maier, Madeline A. Murchland, Emily T. Nienhuis, Julianna Parisi, Ellen G. Polites, C. Heath Stanfield, Kadie J. Steup, Yuntian Teng, Matthew Villante, Keju Yan, H. Todd Schaef
The Earth’s crust contains reactive, igneous reservoirs that can be utilized to turn atmospheric CO 2 into new carbonate minerals. Carbon mineralization technology relies on the reactions between crustal reactants (rock, water, and biota) and injected CO 2 to release divalent cations that can participate in the precipitation of new carbonate minerals. Field CO 2 injection tests in mafic–ultramafic lithologies around the world have opened a window into the reactive potential of the subsurface. Knowledge and technology gained from the decades of carbon mineralization research will push forward efforts in unlocking innovative ways to approach subsurface critical mineral resources, hydrogen generation, geothermal energy, water resource management, waste storage, gas storage, and hydrocarbon extraction. Our review describes a holistic view of subsurface mafic–ultramafic reservoirs, carbon mineralization reactions, field tests, and future opportunities for using the subsurface Earth as a Reactor.