Organic synthesis on Mars by electrochemical reduction of CO2
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2018Author:
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Steele, A., Benning, L.G., Wirth, R., Siljestrom, S., Fries, M.D., Hauri, E., Conrad, P.G., Rogers, K., Eigenbrode, J., Schreiber, A., Needham, A., Wang, J.H., McCubbin, F.M., Kilcoyne, D., Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., Organic synthesis on Mars by electrochemical reduction of CO2, Science Advances, 2018, 4, eaat5118Download Item:
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Abstract:
The sources and nature of organic carbon on Mars have been a subject of intense research. Steele et al. (2012) showed that 10 martian meteorites contain macromolecular carbon phases contained within pyroxene- and olivine-hosted melt inclusions. Here, we show that martian meteorites Tissint, Nakhla, and NWA 1950 have an inventory of organic carbon species associated with fluid-mineral reactions that are remarkably consistent with those detected by the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. We advance the hypothesis that interactions among spinel-group minerals, sulfides, and a brine enable the electrochemical reduction of aqueous CO2 to organic molecules. Although documented here in martian samples, a similar process likely occurs wherever igneous rocks containing spinel-group minerals and/or sulfides encounter brines.
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http://people.tcd.ie/rodrigjdDescription:
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Author: Rodriguez-Blanco, Juan
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American Association for the Advancement of ScienceType of material:
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Science Advances;4;
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Organic carbon, Mars, Spinel-group minerals, Sulfides, Brines, Martian meteoritesSubject (TCD):
Nanoscience & Materials , CO2 , ELECTROCHEMICAL REDUCTION , MarsDOI:
10.1126/sciadv.aat5118Licences: