Organic synthesis associated with serpentinization and carbonation on early Mars
Abstract
Abiotic formation of organic molecules: Mars rovers have found complex organic molecules in the ancient rocks exposed on the planet’s surface and methane in the modern atmosphere. It is unclear what processes produced these organics, with proposals including both biotic and abiotic sources. Steele et al . analyzed the nanoscale mineralogy of the Mars meteorite ALH 84001 and found evidence of organic synthesis driven by serpentinization and carbonation reactions that occurred during the aqueous alteration of basalt rock by hydrothermal fluids. The results demonstrate that abiotic production of organic molecules operated on Mars 4 billion years ago. —KTS
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Organic synthesis has been detected in Martian meteorites that date back 4 Ga which likely happened through serpentinization.
“Organic synthesis has been detected in Martian meteorites that date back 4 Ga which likely happened through serpentinization (McCollom and Seewald, 2013; Steele et al., 2022).”
From Serpentinization as the source of energy, electrons, organics, catalysts, nutrients and pH gradients for the origin of LUCA and life (2023) · cites this paper as Steele et al., 2022
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References 56 · Cited by 98
- Authors
- Steele, A., Benning, L. G., Wirth, R., Schreiber, A., Araki, T., McCubbin, F. M., Fries, M. D., Nittler, L. R., Wang, J., Hallis, L. J., Conrad, P. G., Conley, C., Vitale, S., O’Brien, A. C., Riggi, V., & Rogers, K.
- Affiliations
- Carnegie Institution for Science (US)
- GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences (DE)
- Diamond Light Source (GB)
- Johnson Space Center (US)
- University of Glasgow (GB)
- Ames Research Center (US)
- School of Geographical and Earth Science, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Steele, A.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 2022-01-14
- Volume
- 375
- Issue
- 6577
- Pages
- 172-177
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W4206028086
- Cited by
- 98
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2026: 22 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 12 · 2020: 1 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 7.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Publication Database GFZ (GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
- Keywords
- serpentinization, CO2 mineralization, water-rock interaction, abiotic organic synthesis, Allan Hills 84001, Martian meteorites, carbonate minerals, silicate minerals, early Mars habitability
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