A reference to creatures not being derived from living organisms and so occurring independently of life or life processes, but perhaps preceding or leading to them: As late as the 17th century, people believed in the spontaneous or abiogenic generation of worms, fish, frogs, and even mice from dew, slime, and mud.

The theory that hydrocarbon deposits have a primarily non-biological origin.

According to this concept, such materials became trapped far below the earth's crust when the basic structure of the planet evolved, and have subsequently migrated into reservoirs and to the surface through openings in in the earth's crust.

Contrasted with the more generally accepted biogenic theory that hydrocarbon deposits derive from the remains of living organisms.