Organic molecules in the Sheepbed Mudstone, Gale Crater, Mars
The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on board the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover is designed to conduct inorganic and organic chemical analyses of the atmosphere and the surface regolith and rocks to help evaluate the past and present habitability potential of Mars at Gale Crater. C...
Published in: | Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
American Geophysical Union
2015
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://authors.library.caltech.edu/57611/ https://authors.library.caltech.edu/57611/1/jgre20375.pdf https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20150518-134920174 |
id |
ftcaltechauth:oai:authors.library.caltech.edu:57611 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftcaltechauth:oai:authors.library.caltech.edu:57611 2023-05-15T18:45:43+02:00 Organic molecules in the Sheepbed Mudstone, Gale Crater, Mars Freissinet, C. Grotzinger, J. P. 2015-03 application/pdf https://authors.library.caltech.edu/57611/ https://authors.library.caltech.edu/57611/1/jgre20375.pdf https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20150518-134920174 en eng American Geophysical Union https://authors.library.caltech.edu/57611/1/jgre20375.pdf Freissinet, C. and Grotzinger, J. P. (2015) Organic molecules in the Sheepbed Mudstone, Gale Crater, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets, 120 (3). pp. 495-514. ISSN 2169-9097. PMCID PMC4672966. doi:10.1002/2014JE004737. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20150518-134920174 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20150518-134920174> cc_by_nc_nd CC-BY-NC-ND Article PeerReviewed 2015 ftcaltechauth https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JE004737 2021-11-11T19:04:18Z The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on board the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover is designed to conduct inorganic and organic chemical analyses of the atmosphere and the surface regolith and rocks to help evaluate the past and present habitability potential of Mars at Gale Crater. Central to this task is the development of an inventory of any organic molecules present to elucidate processes associated with their origin, diagenesis, concentration, and long-term preservation. This will guide the future search for biosignatures. Here we report the definitive identification of chlorobenzene (150–300 parts per billion by weight (ppbw)) and C_2 to C_4 dichloroalkanes (up to 70 ppbw) with the SAM gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GCMS) and detection of chlorobenzene in the direct evolved gas analysis (EGA) mode, in multiple portions of the fines from the Cumberland drill hole in the Sheepbed mudstone at Yellowknife Bay. When combined with GCMS and EGA data from multiple scooped and drilled samples, blank runs, and supporting laboratory analog studies, the elevated levels of chlorobenzene and the dichloroalkanes cannot be solely explained by instrument background sources known to be present in SAM. We conclude that these chlorinated hydrocarbons are the reaction products of Martian chlorine and organic carbon derived from Martian sources (e.g., igneous, hydrothermal, atmospheric, or biological) or exogenous sources such as meteorites, comets, or interplanetary dust particles. Article in Journal/Newspaper Yellowknife Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) Yellowknife Yellowknife Bay ENVELOPE(-114.336,-114.336,62.367,62.367) Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 120 3 495 514 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) |
op_collection_id |
ftcaltechauth |
language |
English |
description |
The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on board the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover is designed to conduct inorganic and organic chemical analyses of the atmosphere and the surface regolith and rocks to help evaluate the past and present habitability potential of Mars at Gale Crater. Central to this task is the development of an inventory of any organic molecules present to elucidate processes associated with their origin, diagenesis, concentration, and long-term preservation. This will guide the future search for biosignatures. Here we report the definitive identification of chlorobenzene (150–300 parts per billion by weight (ppbw)) and C_2 to C_4 dichloroalkanes (up to 70 ppbw) with the SAM gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GCMS) and detection of chlorobenzene in the direct evolved gas analysis (EGA) mode, in multiple portions of the fines from the Cumberland drill hole in the Sheepbed mudstone at Yellowknife Bay. When combined with GCMS and EGA data from multiple scooped and drilled samples, blank runs, and supporting laboratory analog studies, the elevated levels of chlorobenzene and the dichloroalkanes cannot be solely explained by instrument background sources known to be present in SAM. We conclude that these chlorinated hydrocarbons are the reaction products of Martian chlorine and organic carbon derived from Martian sources (e.g., igneous, hydrothermal, atmospheric, or biological) or exogenous sources such as meteorites, comets, or interplanetary dust particles. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Freissinet, C. Grotzinger, J. P. |
spellingShingle |
Freissinet, C. Grotzinger, J. P. Organic molecules in the Sheepbed Mudstone, Gale Crater, Mars |
author_facet |
Freissinet, C. Grotzinger, J. P. |
author_sort |
Freissinet, C. |
title |
Organic molecules in the Sheepbed Mudstone, Gale Crater, Mars |
title_short |
Organic molecules in the Sheepbed Mudstone, Gale Crater, Mars |
title_full |
Organic molecules in the Sheepbed Mudstone, Gale Crater, Mars |
title_fullStr |
Organic molecules in the Sheepbed Mudstone, Gale Crater, Mars |
title_full_unstemmed |
Organic molecules in the Sheepbed Mudstone, Gale Crater, Mars |
title_sort |
organic molecules in the sheepbed mudstone, gale crater, mars |
publisher |
American Geophysical Union |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://authors.library.caltech.edu/57611/ https://authors.library.caltech.edu/57611/1/jgre20375.pdf https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20150518-134920174 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-114.336,-114.336,62.367,62.367) |
geographic |
Yellowknife Yellowknife Bay |
geographic_facet |
Yellowknife Yellowknife Bay |
genre |
Yellowknife |
genre_facet |
Yellowknife |
op_relation |
https://authors.library.caltech.edu/57611/1/jgre20375.pdf Freissinet, C. and Grotzinger, J. P. (2015) Organic molecules in the Sheepbed Mudstone, Gale Crater, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets, 120 (3). pp. 495-514. ISSN 2169-9097. PMCID PMC4672966. doi:10.1002/2014JE004737. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20150518-134920174 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20150518-134920174> |
op_rights |
cc_by_nc_nd |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY-NC-ND |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JE004737 |
container_title |
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets |
container_volume |
120 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
495 |
op_container_end_page |
514 |
_version_ |
1766236853106638848 |