[meteorite-list] Unlocking the Organic Composition of Ancient Asteroids

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri Oct 7 12:29:34 2005
Message-ID: <200510071628.j97GSHt19262_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.physorg.com/news7056.html

Unlocking the organic composition of ancient asteroids
by Gina Buss
PhysOrg.com
October 07, 2005

Meteorites contain fragments of asteroids brought about by collisions
within the asteroid belt. These meteorites have not been exposed to
geological processes experienced by planets and stars. Therefore, much
of the matter in these meteorites originates from the formation of the
Solar System some 4.5 billion years ago.

Being the only record of the Solar System's pre-biotic chemical
evolution, scientists have tried for years to extract and study this
material. It is believed that discovering the composition of meteorites
will reveal what the Solar System was made of at its birth and how those
materials evolved into our current-day universe.

Most of the methods used to extract this matter have failed leading to
the destruction of the meteorite material or just the inability to
extract any compounds.

However, a recent study from the Planetary and Space Science Journal
explains how scientists have developed a novel approach to extracting
these meteoric materials. It's called hydropyrolysis.

This new technology uses high hydrogen gas pressures, extreme
temperature, and water as a non-destructive means for extracting organic
and inorganic compounds from meteorites.

This process has revealed high amounts of carbon and nitrogen- elements
essential to life at the core of the meteorites. Also, this new
technology revealed several never-before-seen organic molecules.

The results of this study also contradict a common understanding to the
origin of meteorites. It is thought that meteoric material originated
from a molecular could that collapsed to form the Solar System.
Scientists using hydropyrolysis believe this is a misconception and seek
to use this technology to find the true origin of the organic matter in
meteorites.

Scientists hope that the use of this new technology will offer even more
clues into the composition of the Solar System when it was forming.

Finally researchers have a way to trace the evolutionary path of organic
compounds which will ultimately lead to knowledge of the evolution of
our universe.

Reference:
Sephton M, Love G, Meredith W, Snape C, Sun C, and Watson J. 2005.
Planetary and Space Science Journal. Article in Press.
Received on Fri 07 Oct 2005 12:28:17 PM PDT