Organic synthesis associated with serpentinization and carbonation on early Mars

Steele, A. et al. (2022) Organic synthesis associated with serpentinization and carbonation on early Mars. Science, 375(6577), pp. 172-177. (doi: 10.1126/science.abg7905)

Abstract

Water-rock interactions are relevant to planetary habitability, influencing mineralogical diversity and the production of organic molecules. We examine carbonates and silicates in the martian meteorite Allan Hills 84001 (ALH 84001), using colocated nanoscale analyses, to characterize the nature of water-rock reactions on early Mars. We find complex refractory organic material associated with mineral assemblages that formed by mineral carbonation and serpentinization reactions. The organic molecules are colocated with nanophase magnetite; both formed in situ during water-rock interactions on Mars. Two potentially distinct mechanisms of abiotic organic synthesis operated on early Mars during the late Noachian period (3.9 to 4.1 billion years ago).

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Funding: A.St. acknowledges NASA grant 17-NAI8_2-0020 (principal investigator K.R.) and M. Walter (EPL) for travel funding. L.G.B., R.W., and A.St. acknowledge financial support for the TEM work through the Helmholtz Recruiting Initiative program awarded to L.G.B. F.M.M. acknowledges support from NASA’s Planetary Science Research Program.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: O'Brien, Ms Aine and Hallis, Dr Lydia
• Authors: Steele, A., Benning, L. G., Wirth, R., Schreiber, A., Araki, T., McCubbin, F. M., Fries, M. D., Nittler, L. R., Wang, J., Hallis, L. J., Conrad, P. G., Conley, C., Vitale, S., O'Brien, A. C., Riggi, V., and Rogers, K.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
• Journal Name: Science
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• ISSN: 0036-8075
• ISSN (Online): 1095-9203

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