How life began?

It seems to me that a we're skipping a step or two.

LIFE on Earth was created by the spectacular collision of continents millions of years ago that oxygenated the planet, new research has revealed.

Massive seismic events created "supermountains" twice the height of the Himalayas, which were then eroded quickly and released large amounts of nutrients such as iron and phosphorus into the oceans. This led to an explosion of algae and bacteria, which helped photosynthesis and thus created oxygen.
(scotsman.com)

Apparently we're supposed to infer something in there to the effect that iron + phosphorous + ocean = algae and bacteria.

It's dangerous allowing journalists to report science. I'm reminded somewhat of the old Monty Python sketch, "How To Do It."