Investigating the Oldest Traces of Life by AFM/Confocal Raman Spectroscopy: Applications for the Analysis of Martian Rocks

Details Investigating the Oldest Traces of Life by AFM/Confocal Raman Spectroscopy: Applications for the Analysis of Martian Rocks Investigating the Oldest Traces of Life by AFM/Confocal Raman Spectroscopy: Applications for the Analysis of Martian Rocks

Aug 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aipc.1163...47f&link_type=abstract

MICRO-RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY AND LUMINESCENCE STUDIES IN THE EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES: Proceedings of the International Conferen

Biology

Mars, Raman, Scanning Tunneling And Atomic Force Microscopy, Plate Tectonics, X-Ray, Volcanism

Scientific paper

The next European mission to Mars, ExoMars (2016), is dedicated to the search for past and/or present traces of life. This is one of the primary goals of exo/astrobiology. Similarities in the environmental conditions of early Mars and the early Earth mean that life forms on the early Earth are good analogues for potential martian life. However, the oldest traces of terrestrial life are extremely small and highly sophisticated scientific equipment is required to reveal their subtle traces. Instruments that could observe biosignatures on in situ missions are, however, limited in resolution.
In this study, various techniques are used to analyse martian analogue rocks containing traces of life. These rocks are 3.5-3.3 billion-years old volcanic sediments from the Pilbara in Australia and Barberton in South Africa. High magnification instruments were used to demonstrate the biogenicity of the fossilised structures. Space-adaptable techniques were then used in order to investigate larger scale biosignatures. Special emphasis was placed on Raman spectroscopy. This technique is extremely promising in the search for traces of life in situ on Mars.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Investigating the Oldest Traces of Life by AFM/Confocal Raman Spectroscopy: Applications for the Analysis of Martian Rocks 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 Investigating the Oldest Traces of Life by AFM/Confocal Raman Spectroscopy: Applications for the Analysis of Martian Rocks, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Investigating the Oldest Traces of Life by AFM/Confocal Raman Spectroscopy: Applications for the Analysis of Martian Rocks will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1314053