Atomic Carbon in Minerals

In the context of the discovery of amines and oxygen-containing organic compounds, the question arises as to whether the presence of atomic carbon in olivine or MgO crystals could have led to the formation of amino acids. Knobel et al. (1984) reported the detection of amino acids in liquid extracts of the reaction mixtures at the 1983 ISSOL conference yields were, however, extremely low, the total yield being 1.5-3.0 x 10-7 g per gram of MgO. These results were the subject of considerable attention in the media. 

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