Interesting. I have long been curious who'd outpace who, the material scientists or the biochemists trying to take the most common protein in the world (Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase) and let engineered evolution do the work for them. Both sides have some serious obstacles. With this "magnesite" for example, I can't imagine it'll be easy or obvious what to do with that mass of it.
from Wikipedia....
Uses[
edit]

Dyed and polished magnesite beads

Magnesite of
SalemSimilar to the production of lime, magnesite can be burned in the presence of charcoal to produce
MgO, which, in the form of a mineral, is known as
periclase. Large quantities of magnesite are burnt to make
magnesium oxide: an important
refractory material used as a lining in
blast furnaces,
kilns and
incinerators. Calcination temperatures determine the reactivity of resulting oxide products and the classifications of light burnt and dead burnt refer to the surface area and resulting reactivity of the product, typically as determined by an industry metric of the iodine number. 'Light burnt' product generally refers to calcination commencing at 450 °C and proceeding to an upper limit of 900 °C - which results in good surface area and reactivity. Above 900 °C, the material loses its reactive crystalline structure and reverts to the chemically inert 'dead-burnt' product- which is preferred for use in refractory materials such as furnace linings.
Magnesite can also be used as a binder in flooring material (
magnesite screed).
[15] Furthermore, it is being used as a catalyst and filler in the production of
synthetic rubber and in the preparation of magnesium chemicals and fertilizers.
In fire assay, magnesite cupels can be used for
cupellation as the magnesite cupel will resist the high temperatures involved.
Magnesite can be cut, drilled, and polished to form beads that are used in jewelry-making. Magnesite beads can be dyed into a broad spectrum of bold colors, including a light blue color that mimics the appearance of
turquoise.
Research is proceeding to evaluate the practicality of sequestering the
greenhouse gas carbon dioxide in magnesite on a large scale
[16].