A reduced organic carbon component in martian basalts

A. Steele; F. M. McCubbin; M. Fries; L. Kater; N. Z. Boctor; M. L. Fogel; P. G. Conrad; M. Glamoclija; M. Spencer; A. L. Morrow; M. R. Hammond; R. N. Zare; E. P. Vicenzi; S. Siljeström; R. Bowden; C. D.K. Herd; B. O. Mysen; S. B. Shirey; H. E.F. Amundsen; A. H. Treiman; E. S. Bullock; A. J.T. Jull

doi:10.1126/science.1220715

A reduced organic carbon component in martian basalts

A. Steele, F. M. McCubbin, M. Fries, L. Kater, N. Z. Boctor, M. L. Fogel, P. G. Conrad, M. Glamoclija, M. Spencer, A. L. Morrow, M. R. Hammond, R. N. Zare, E. P. Vicenzi, S. Siljeström, R. Bowden, C. D.K. Herd, B. O. Mysen, S. B. Shirey, H. E.F. Amundsen, A. H. TreimanE. S. Bullock, A. J.T. Jull

Geosciences

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Abstract

The source and nature of carbon on Mars have been a subject of intense speculation. We report the results of confocal Raman imaging spectroscopy on 11 martian meteorites, spanning about 4.2 billion years of martian history. Ten of the meteorites contain abiotic macromolecular carbon (MMC) phases detected in association with small oxide grains included within high-temperature minerals. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected along with MMC phases in Dar al Gani 476. The association of organic carbon within magmatic minerals indicates that martian magmas favored precipitation of reduced carbon species during crystallization. The ubiquitous distribution of abiotic organic carbon in martian igneous rocks is important for understanding the martian carbon cycle and has implications for future missions to detect possible past martian life.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	212-215
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	337
Issue number	6091
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1220715
State	Published - Jul 13 2012

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Steele, A., McCubbin, F. M., Fries, M., Kater, L., Boctor, N. Z., Fogel, M. L., Conrad, P. G., Glamoclija, M., Spencer, M., Morrow, A. L., Hammond, M. R., Zare, R. N., Vicenzi, E. P., Siljeström, S., Bowden, R., Herd, C. D. K., Mysen, B. O., Shirey, S. B., Amundsen, H. E. F., ... Jull, A. J. T. (2012). A reduced organic carbon component in martian basalts. Science, 337(6091), 212-215. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1220715

Steele, A, McCubbin, FM, Fries, M, Kater, L, Boctor, NZ, Fogel, ML, Conrad, PG, Glamoclija, M, Spencer, M, Morrow, AL, Hammond, MR, Zare, RN, Vicenzi, EP, Siljeström, S, Bowden, R, Herd, CDK, Mysen, BO, Shirey, SB, Amundsen, HEF, Treiman, AH, Bullock, ES & Jull, AJT 2012, 'A reduced organic carbon component in martian basalts', Science, vol. 337, no. 6091, pp. 212-215. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1220715

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title = "A reduced organic carbon component in martian basalts",

abstract = "The source and nature of carbon on Mars have been a subject of intense speculation. We report the results of confocal Raman imaging spectroscopy on 11 martian meteorites, spanning about 4.2 billion years of martian history. Ten of the meteorites contain abiotic macromolecular carbon (MMC) phases detected in association with small oxide grains included within high-temperature minerals. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected along with MMC phases in Dar al Gani 476. The association of organic carbon within magmatic minerals indicates that martian magmas favored precipitation of reduced carbon species during crystallization. The ubiquitous distribution of abiotic organic carbon in martian igneous rocks is important for understanding the martian carbon cycle and has implications for future missions to detect possible past martian life.",

author = "A. Steele and McCubbin, {F. M.} and M. Fries and L. Kater and Boctor, {N. Z.} and Fogel, {M. L.} and Conrad, {P. G.} and M. Glamoclija and M. Spencer and Morrow, {A. L.} and Hammond, {M. R.} and Zare, {R. N.} and Vicenzi, {E. P.} and S. Siljestr{\"o}m and R. Bowden and Herd, {C. D.K.} and Mysen, {B. O.} and Shirey, {S. B.} and Amundsen, {H. E.F.} and Treiman, {A. H.} and Bullock, {E. S.} and Jull, {A. J.T.}",

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AU - Fries, M.

AU - Kater, L.

AU - Boctor, N. Z.

AU - Fogel, M. L.

AU - Conrad, P. G.

AU - Glamoclija, M.

AU - Spencer, M.

AU - Morrow, A. L.

AU - Hammond, M. R.

AU - Zare, R. N.

AU - Vicenzi, E. P.

AU - Siljeström, S.

AU - Bowden, R.

AU - Herd, C. D.K.

AU - Mysen, B. O.

AU - Shirey, S. B.

AU - Amundsen, H. E.F.

AU - Treiman, A. H.

AU - Bullock, E. S.

AU - Jull, A. J.T.

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AB - The source and nature of carbon on Mars have been a subject of intense speculation. We report the results of confocal Raman imaging spectroscopy on 11 martian meteorites, spanning about 4.2 billion years of martian history. Ten of the meteorites contain abiotic macromolecular carbon (MMC) phases detected in association with small oxide grains included within high-temperature minerals. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected along with MMC phases in Dar al Gani 476. The association of organic carbon within magmatic minerals indicates that martian magmas favored precipitation of reduced carbon species during crystallization. The ubiquitous distribution of abiotic organic carbon in martian igneous rocks is important for understanding the martian carbon cycle and has implications for future missions to detect possible past martian life.

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A reduced organic carbon component in martian basalts

Abstract

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