Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Sep 1991
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1991oleb...21..385t&link_type=abstract
Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere, Volume 21, Issue 5-6, pp. 385-397
Mathematics
Logic
9
Scientific paper
It is possible that Earth's biologic precursors were delivered by late-impacting asteroids or comets, and it is possible that these objects were a source of Earth's volatile inventory. To understand the behavior of organic matter in carbonaceous meteorites during hypervelocity impact (1 2 km s-1), three samples of the Murchison (CM2) carbonaceous chondrite were shocked to 19, 20 and 36 GPa and analyzed by very sensitive thermal-desorption photoionization mass spectrometry (SALI). Thermal-desorption (25 800 °C) SALI mass spectra of unshocked Murchison reveal indigenous aliphatic, aromatic, sulfur and organosulfur compounds. Samples shocked to ≈20 GPa exhibit little or no loss of organic matter relative to the unshocked material. This is consistent with the earlier work of Tyburczyet al. (1986) which showed that incipient devolatilization of Murchison occurs at peak shock pressures near 20 GPa. The small amount of organic matter lost appears to have occurred by volatilization of elemental sulfur, amines and aliphatic compounds. In the sample shocked to 36 GPa, approximately 70% of the organic matter was volatilized as a result of impact. The residual organic matter desorbed at somewhat higher temperatures and displayed a different chemical signature. In particular, the shocked material has a lower alkene/alkane ratio than that of the starting material. The preliminary data suggest that it is unlikely that the indigenous organic matter in carbonaceous chondrite-like planetesimals could have survived impact on the Earth in the later stages of Earth's accretion. However, chemical reactions that produce organic compounds with greater thermal stabilities may occur during impact or subsequent to impact by condensation of the impact-produced vapor plume.
Ahrens Thomas J.
Becker Christopher H.
Tingle Tracy N.
Tyburczy James A.
No associations
LandOfFree
The fate of organic matter during planetary accretion: Preliminary studies of the organic chemistry of experimentally shocked murchison meteorite does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The fate of organic matter during planetary accretion: Preliminary studies of the organic chemistry of experimentally shocked murchison meteorite, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The fate of organic matter during planetary accretion: Preliminary studies of the organic chemistry of experimentally shocked murchison meteorite will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1341642