Organic constituents of the carbonaceous chondrites

Briggs, Michael H.; Mamikunian, Gregg

doi:10.1007/bf00212447

Cited by 56 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Urea has been detected in carbonaceous meteorites such as Murchison (Cooper and Cronin, 1995), which indicates that large amounts of this compound were probably delivered to early Earth. Glycolic acid, the smallest a-hydroxy acid, is a sugar derivative found in many sugar-rich plants (Yaar and Gilchrest, 2007) and has also been detected in carbonaceous meteorites (Cronin and Chang, 1993), along with other small sugars (Briggs and Mamikunian, 1963;Cooper et al, 2001;Pizzarello, 2004). Therefore, sugars were probably present on early Earth along with amino and fatty acids, which were also detected in the Murchison meteorite (Briggs and Mamikunian, 1963;Cronin andPizzarello, 1997, 1999;Engel and Macko, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Glycolic acid, the smallest a-hydroxy acid, is a sugar derivative found in many sugar-rich plants (Yaar and Gilchrest, 2007) and has also been detected in carbonaceous meteorites (Cronin and Chang, 1993), along with other small sugars (Briggs and Mamikunian, 1963;Cooper et al, 2001;Pizzarello, 2004). Therefore, sugars were probably present on early Earth along with amino and fatty acids, which were also detected in the Murchison meteorite (Briggs and Mamikunian, 1963;Cronin andPizzarello, 1997, 1999;Engel and Macko, 1997). Glycerol, a sugar alcohol, is a precursor for the synthesis of triacylglycerols (a certain class of lipids) and is used as energy storage for cellular metabolism in contemporary biological systems (Boyer, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Urea, Glycolic Acid, and Glycerol in an Organic Residue Produced by Ultraviolet Irradiation of Interstellar/Pre-Cometary Ice Analogs

et al. 2010

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More than 50 stable organic molecules have been detected in the interstellar medium (ISM), from ground-based and onboard-satellite astronomical observations, in the gas and solid phases. Some of these organics may be prebiotic compounds that were delivered to early Earth by comets and meteorites and may have triggered the first chemical reactions involved in the origin of life. Ultraviolet irradiation of ices simulating photoprocesses of cold solid matter in astrophysical environments have shown that photochemistry can lead to the formation of amino acids and related compounds. In this work, we experimentally searched for other organic molecules of prebiotic interest, namely, oxidized acid labile compounds. In a setup that simulates conditions relevant to the ISM and Solar System icy bodies such as comets, a condensed CH(3)OH:NH(3) = 1:1 ice mixture was UV irradiated at approximately 80 K. The molecular constituents of the nonvolatile organic residue that remained at room temperature were separated by capillary gas chromatography and identified by mass spectrometry. Urea, glycolic acid, and glycerol were detected in this residue, as well as hydroxyacetamide, glycerolic acid, and glycerol amide. These organics are interesting target molecules to be searched for in space. Finally, tentative mechanisms of formation for these compounds under interstellar/pre-cometary conditions are proposed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urea, Glycolic Acid, and Glycerol in an Organic Residue Produced by Ultraviolet Irradiation of Interstellar/Pre-Cometary Ice Analogs

et al. 2010

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“…These Antarctic findings may have a bearing on recent interesting discoveries in carbonaceous meteorites. Here polymer-type films and other more symmetrically organized particles have been found, although it would seem that nothing as big or as vividly coloured as the Antarctic material has been recorded (Briggs & Mamikunian 1963).…”

Section: Bottle 9-cavity 3 (Bottom Of the D I Mmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…being derived from particulate fine iron dust interacting with the atmosphere. Recent airborne collections (Hodge & Wildt 1958;Fireman & Kistner 1961;Wright & others 1963) carried out in remote parts, by observers fully conscious of the dangers of confusion with black magnetic spherules derived from factory chimneys, do indicLte that the number of spherules is much too great for them to be the product of the fusion crust of the very infrequent meteorite falls. Then again, the present work shows a quantity of fine airborne fragmentary metallic iron or nickel dust that is even more abundant than the magnetite spherules.…”

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confidence: 96%

Cosmic Dust Collections at Various Latitudes

Brownlow

Hunter

Parkin

1965

Geophysical Journal International

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Airborne dust collections, lasting over several months, have been made at Barbados and the Isles of Scilly. Microscopic (100 p) flakes of metallic iron and of nickel have been found. When allowance is made for their masses, their arrival date suggests that they are associated with meteor showers. However, these flakes show no sign of melting or of heavy oxidation; and, since they are more abundant than the Van der Hulst's (1947) zodiacal estimate, there is a possibility that they may be spiralling in on grazing orbits from a dust shell surrounding the Earth. At certain times, particularly at midsummer in the northern hemisphere, this shell would have to give enhanced precipitation.The tabloidal or wafer shape of some fragments, especially the nickel, together with the occasional sandwiching of metal between layers of some reddish material, implies that these types have been torn from a layered primary. Metallic flakes embedded within a pale yellow-green carbonaceous substance have also been found. No silicon has been detected in these other materials and with the high purity of the nickel flakes, this suggests a non-meteoritic origin. If comets are responsible, then in parts of them the metal could exist as extensive sheets.Metallic fragments have also been found in Antarctic meltwater; and the size distributions for the iron fragments at the various latitudes leads to an accretion law dm ms dl'= ( -10-6-where df is the number of fragments of mass m pg incident on a square metre per second, in the mass interval dm. Here s varies slightly with latitude but the mean value of 1.53 agrees with the Van der Hulst's distribution for the zodiacal cloud; and it also agrees with the distribution of chips of shattered brick. Knowing approximately the total mass of the very finest iron fragments and extrapolating the above law, the minimum fragment size existing in the solar system is about 10 p. The nickel fragments follow a similar law but are about 10 to 20 times less numerous than the iron. An alternative interpretation, involving possible ablation at special mass values appropriate to particular meteor showers, is also discussed.

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“…DEGENS and BAJOR (1962) presented experimental data in support of one of ANDERS' criticisms. Their analyses of amino acids in meteorites suggested that terrestrial organisms could have been the principal source of the carbon compounds in the Murray and Bruderheim chondrites, but subsequent analyses reported by BRIGGS (1963), MEINSCHEIN, NAGY, and HENNESSY (1963), , NAGY, FREDRIKSSON, UREY, CLAUS, ANDERSON, and PERSEY (1963), and KAPLAN, DEGENS, and REUTER (1963) strongly indicate that most amino acids, hydrocarbons, and some other carbonaceous materials in certain meteorites are indigenous. An excellent compilation of many of these analytical results has been prepared by BRINGS and MAMIKUNIAN (1963).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrocarbons in terrestrial samples and the Orgueil meteorite

Meinschein

1963

Space Sci Rev

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Meteorites contain extraterrestrial carbonaceous materials. The Alais, Orgueil, Tonk, and Ivuna meteorites resemble in their carbon, free sulfur, and non-metamorphosed mineral contents, densities, and general appearances certain organic-rich terrestrial sediments. Structural and isotopic determinations of carbon compounds in the Orgueil chondrite indicate that these compounds are primarily indigenous. Physically and chemically the benzene extractable carbonaceous materials from the Orgueil and certain near-surface terrestrial sediments are similar. Mass spectrometric type analyses of the alkanes from an Orgueil fragment, terrestrial sediments and organisms are statistically indistinguishable at the 95 per cent confidence level. Theoretical considerations and experimental data are presented, and these permit an assessment of the potential and reliability of hydrocarbons as biological indicators. Based on the production and preservation or organic substances in terrestrial environments, alkanes in the Alais, Orgueil, Tonk, and Ivuna (Type I) carbonaceous chondrites could retain the best evidence of organisms that may have lived on a parent body of meteorites.

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Organic constituents of the carbonaceous chondrites

Cited by 56 publications

References 35 publications

Urea, Glycolic Acid, and Glycerol in an Organic Residue Produced by Ultraviolet Irradiation of Interstellar/Pre-Cometary Ice Analogs

Urea, Glycolic Acid, and Glycerol in an Organic Residue Produced by Ultraviolet Irradiation of Interstellar/Pre-Cometary Ice Analogs

Cosmic Dust Collections at Various Latitudes

Hydrocarbons in terrestrial samples and the Orgueil meteorite

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