Sr-bearing marine barite [(Ba_x, Sr_1−x)SO₄] cycling has been widely used to reconstruct geochemical evolutions of paleoenvironments. However, an understanding of barite precipitation in the ocean, which is globally undersaturated with respect to barite, is missing. Moreover, the reason for the occurrence of higher Sr content in marine barites than expected for classical crystal growth processes remains unknown. Field data analyses suggested that organic molecules may regulate the formation and composition of marine barites; however, the specific organic–mineral interactions are unclear. Using in situ grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS), size and total volume evolutions of barite precipitates on organic films were characterized. The results show that barite forms on organic films from undersaturated solutions. Moreover, from a single supersaturated solution with respect to barite, Sr-rich barite nanoparticles formed on organics, while micrometer-size Sr-poor barites formed in bulk solutions. Ion adsorption experiments showed that organic films can enrich cation concentrations in the adjacent solution, thus increasing the local supersaturation and promoting barite nucleation on organic films, even when the bulk solution was undersaturated. The Sr enrichment in barites formed on organic films was found to be controlled by solid-solution nucleation rates; instead, the Sr-poor barite formation in bulk solution was found to be controlled by solid-solution growth rates. This study provides a mechanistic explanation for Sr-rich marine barite formation and offers insights for understanding and controlling the compositions of solid solutions by separately tuning their nucleation and growth rates via the unique chemistry of solution–organic interfaces. Significance The wide occurrence of Sr-rich marine barite in undersaturated seawater presents a paradox. Here, in undersaturated solution, we observe barite nucleation on organic films and show it is enabled by cation enrichment. In supersaturated solution, this enrichment generates nanometer-sized Sr-rich nuclei on organic films, while Sr-poor barite grows quickly to micrometer-sized crystals in bulk solutions. Theoretical solid-solution calculations explain the distinct Sr incorporation in barites on organic films and in bulk solutions. The findings resolve the barite paradox and provide insights into manipulating solid-solution nucleation and growth through the unique chemical environment near organic–mineral interfaces, which may revise our understanding of many biomineralization processes and allow strategies for tailoring material synthesis to achieve desired sizes and compositions.

It has been proposed to use magnesium oxide (MgO) to separate carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere at the gigaton level. We show experimental results on MgO single crystals reacting with the atmosphere for longer (decades) and shorter (days to months) periods with the goal of gauging reaction rates. Here, we find a substantial slowdown of an initially fast reaction as a result of mineral armoring by reaction products (surface passivation). In short-term experiments, we observe fast hydroxylation, carbonation, and formation of amorphous hydrated magnesium carbonate at early stages, leading to the formation of crystalline hydrated Mg carbonates. The preferential location of Mg carbonates along the atomic steps on the crystal surface of MgO indicates the importance of the reactive site density for carbonation kinetics. The analysis of 27-year-old single-crystal MgO samples demonstrates that the thickness of the reacted layer is limited to ∼1.5 μm on average, which is thinner than expected and indicates surface passivation. Thus, if MgO is to be employed for direct air capture of CO₂, surface passivation must be circumvented.