oa Exploring Extraterrestrial Organic Carbons: Insights from Basaltic Rock and Hot Springs

This study investigates the preservation and formation of organic molecules in extraterrestrial bodies, focusing on the Martian meteorite Tissint and Earth analogs like hot spring sinters. Using advanced organic-clean protocols, pyrolysis, and micro-cryo-trap techniques, the researchers identified indigenous organic molecules embedded in the meteorite. Mass spectrometry and algorithmic deconvolution enabled precise identification of these compounds, revealing thermal and spatial variations in their structures. These findings suggest that impact hydrothermalism and magmatism played significant roles in organic molecule synthesis. The study also indicates that organic molecules’ preservation and recalcitrance are influenced by their proximity to hydrothermal features, with locations slightly away from vents potentially offering better chances for detecting primitive molecules. The proposed methodology provides a robust framework for identifying and analyzing organic compounds, offering crucial insights for the search for life-related markers on Mars.