LIFE ON MARS?
LIFE ON MARS?
General reference on Mars can be found on the website Views of the Solar System
Fresh fracture surfaces of the martian meteorite
ALH84001 contain
abundant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These fresh fracture
surfaces also display carbonate globules. Contamination studies suggest
that the PAHs are indigenous to the meteorite. High-resolution scanning
and transmission electron microscopy study of surface textures and
internal structures of selected carbonate globules show that the
globules contain fine-grained, secondary phases of single-domain
magnetite and Fe-sulfides. The carbonate globules are similar in
texture and size to some terrestrial bacterially induced carbonate
precipitates. Although inorganic formation is possible, formation of
the globules by biogenic processes could explain many of the observed
features, including the PAHs.
The PAHs, the carbonate globules, and
their associated secondary mineral phases and textures could thus be
fossil remains of a past martian biota.
Parting Shots:
