Long-chain alkanes preserved in a Martian mudstone
Abstract
Organic molecules preserved in ancient Martian rocks provide a critical record of the past habitability of Mars and could be chemical biosignatures. Experiments conducted by the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument onboard the Curiosity rover have previously reported several classes of indigenous chlorinated and sulfur-containing organic compounds in Gale crater sedimentary rocks, with chemical structures of up to six carbons. Here, we report the detection of decane (C 10 H 22 ), undecane (C 11 H 24 ), and dodecane (C 12 H 26 ) at the tens of pmol level, released from the Cumberland drilled mudstone sample, using a modified SAM analytical procedure optimized for the detection of larger organic molecules. Laboratory experiments support the hypothesis that the alkanes detected were originally preserved in the mudstone as long-chain carboxylic acids. The origin of these molecules remains uncertain, as they could be derived from either abiotic or biological sources.
Article Details
Journal Info
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
Authors (22)
Caroline Freissinet
Laboratoire Atmosphères et Observations Spatiales, Université Versailles St Quentin Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université, CNRS
Daniel P. Glavin
Solar System Exploration Division, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center
P. Douglas Archer
NASA Johnson Space Center
Samuel Teinturier
Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Arnaud Buch
Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés et Matériaux, CentraleSupelec
Cyril Szopa
Laboratoire Atmosphères et Observations Spatiales, Université Versailles St Quentin Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université, CNRS
James M. T. Lewis
Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Amy J. Williams
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida
Rafael Navarro-Gonzalez
Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
Jason P. Dworkin
Solar System Exploration Division, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center
Heather. B. Franz
Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Maëva Millan
Laboratoire Atmosphères et Observations Spatiales, Université Versailles St Quentin Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université, CNRS
Jennifer L. Eigenbrode
Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
R. E. Summons
Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Christopher H. House
Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
Ross H. Williams
Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Andrew Steele
Ophélie McIntosh
Laboratoire Atmosphères et Observations Spatiales, Université Versailles St Quentin Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université, CNRS
Felipe Gómez
Department of Planetology and Habitability, Astrobiology Center, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
Benito Prats
Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Charles A. Malespin
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Paul R. Mahaffy
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center