Mars meteorites

The phosphorus chemistry occurring in interstellar matter and in the circum-stellar regions of the cosmos is not yet understood. We do, however, know that phosphorus compounds are present in meteorites, lunar rocks and Mars meteorites. Oddly enough, the element can be detected nearly everywhere, though only in low concentrations. Phosphate minerals, as well as the anions PO2 and PO3, have... 

Could it be the case that microorganisms, like the suspected fossils in the Mars meteorite ALH 84001, exist in the Martian soil This question leads to the counterquestion as to whether it has previously been possible to detect and study life (primitive life forms) under highly extreme conditions. Are there such conditions on Earth We now know quite a lot about extremophiles such as the thermophilic, halophilic and hyperthermophilic microorganisms. 

The experiments were intended to clarify the question as to whether transmission of spores from Mars to Earth could be feasible. To do this, a Mars meteorite was simulated, i.e., the spores were mixed with powdered rock and the mixture pressed together to give a small cube about 1 cm3 in size. The spore concentration was about the same as in normal soil on Earth. The samples were in orbit for around 2 weeks, and their survival ability was determined on their return to Earth, compared with the corresponding samples which had been left on Earth (control experiment). 

Franchi lA, Wright IP, Sexton AS, Pilhnger T (1999) The oxygen isotopic composition of Earth and Mars, Meteorit Planet Sci 34 657-661... 

Meyer C. (2003) Mars Meteorite Compendium—2003. http // www-curator.jsc.nasa.gov/curator/antmet/mmc/mmc.htm... 

Meyer C. (1998) Mars Meteorite Compendium—1998. NASA Johnson Space Center, 237p. 

The regularly updated Mars Meteorite Compendium (www-curator.j sc.nasa.gov/curator/antmet/ antmet.htm) contains a wealth of geochemical information on SNCs. 

Nitrogen abundances in the atmospheres of Earth and Venus are comparable, being much higher than that of Mars. Meteoritic 8 N values overlap the terrestrial-atmosphere and the lower-mantle values, while that of Mars atmosphere is much higher. Planetary N/ Ar ratios fall between meteorite and solar ratios. While much of the terrestrial nitrogen at the surface is in the atmosphere with = o%o (where =... 

The surface of Mars is covered by meteorite craters, some up to 200 km in diameter. The question as to whether water exists on Mars has been the subject of scientific controversy for many years (see Chap. 11). Costly Mars missions with the goal of mapping the surface have afforded important results on now dry river valleys. The weather on Mars is characterized by ground-level fog, thin ice clouds and (often very violent) dust storms, which vary not only seasonally but also daily. The question as to whether our neighbour planet harbours life (of any kind), or if it ever did so, gave rise to a media sensation at a NASA press conference on August 7, 1996. The researchers, who had been studying the 1.9 kg Mars meteorite ALH 84001, came to the conclusion that it bore clear evidence of previous life forms ... 

Folco L, Franchi lA, D Orazio M, Rocchi S, Schultz L (2000) A new martian meteorite from the Sahara The shergottite Dar al Gani 489. Meteoritics Planet Sci 35 827-839 Franchi lA, Wright IP, Sexton AS, Pillinger CT (1999) The oxygen-isotopic composition of Earth and Mars. Meteoritics Planet Sci 34 657-661... 

Swindle TD, Treiman AH, Lindstrom DL, Burkland MK, Cohen BA, Grier JA, Li B, Olson EK (2000) Noble gas studies of iddingsite from the Lafayette meteorite Evidence for the timing of liquid water on Mars. Meteoritic Planet Sci 35 107-115... 

Kiefer WS (2003) Melting in the martian mantle Shergottite formation and implications for present-day mantle convection on Mars. Meteorit Planet Sci 39(12) 1815-1832 King EA, Wagstaff J (1981) Micrometeorites from Antarctic ice cores. Ant J US 16(5) 92-93... 

Stonehouse B (ed) (2002) Encyclopedia of Antarctica and the Southern Oceans. Wiley, Chichester, UK Swindle TD, Olson EK (2004) Ar/ Ar studies of whole rock nakhlites Evidence for the timing and aqueous alteration on Mars. Meteorit Planet Sci 39(5) 755-766 Swindle TD, Caffee MW, Hohenberg CM (1986) Xenon and other noble gases inshergottites. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 50(6) 1001-1015... 

D. Rodionov, C. Schriider, G. KlingeUiofer, R.V. Morris, T. Wdowiak, P.A. de Souza Jr, A. Yen, T. Wdowiak, S.W. Squyres, And the Athena Science Team Mossbauer investigation of Bounce Rock at Meridiani Planum on Mars—Indications for the first shergottite on Mars. Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 39, A91 (2004)... 

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