Classification of Meteorites and Micrometeorites

Maurette, M.

doi:10.1007/3-540-34335-0_6

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…While serpentinizing systems are highly attractive as a source of both the reducing potential and carbon required to build a molecular inventory (Baross and Hoffman, 1985 ; Russell and Hall, 1997 ; Martin et al, 2008; Sleep et al, 2011 ; though see McCollom and Donaldson, 2016 , for an alternate view), to date little attention has been given to the chemical modification of extraterrestrial carbon in early hydrothermal-based theories for life's origins (Baross and Hoffman, 1985 ; Russell and Hall, 1997 ; Martin and Russell, 2007 ; Martin et al, 2008; Simoncini et al, 2011 ). As noted above, meteorite and micrometeorite analyses strongly support early, massive, and widespread delivery of extraterrestrial organics, corresponding to as much as 10% of the oxidized carbon remaining in the modern biomass (Sephton, 2002 ) and additionally providing minerals containing potentially reactive metals (Maurette, 2006 ; Pizzarello and Shock, 2010 ). About 75% of the carbonaceous matter distributed within carbonaceous chondrites is insoluble macromolecular material (Pizzarello and Shock, 2010 ), which would have concentrated in the sediments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

A Hydrothermal-Sedimentary Context for the Origin of Life

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Critical to the origin of life are the ingredients of life, of course, but also the physical and chemical conditions in which prebiotic chemical reactions can take place. These factors place constraints on the types of Hadean environment in which life could have emerged. Many locations, ranging from hydrothermal vents and pumice rafts, through volcanic-hosted splash pools to continental springs and rivers, have been proposed for the emergence of life on Earth, each with respective advantages and certain disadvantages. However, there is another, hitherto unrecognized environment that, on the Hadean Earth (4.5–4.0 Ga), would have been more important than any other in terms of spatial and temporal scale: the sedimentary layer between oceanic crust and seawater. Using as an example sediments from the 3.5–3.33 Ga Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa, analogous at least on a local scale to those of the Hadean eon, we document constant permeation of the porous, carbonaceous, and reactive sedimentary layer by hydrothermal fluids emanating from the crust. This partially UV-protected, subaqueous sedimentary environment, characterized by physical and chemical gradients, represented a widespread system of miniature chemical reactors in which the production and complexification of prebiotic molecules could have led to the origin of life. Key Words: Origin of life—Hadean environment—Mineral surface reactions—Hydrothermal fluids—Archean volcanic sediments. Astrobiology 18, 259–293.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

A Hydrothermal-Sedimentary Context for the Origin of Life

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Based on the measured flux of extraterrestrial organic carbon in micrometeorites that reach the surface of present-day Earth, Maurette ( 2006 ) calculated that a huge amount of ∼5 × 10 24 g reached Earth's surface in the 300 million years following the Moon-forming impact. Interaction of that carbon with serpentinizing systems was unavoidable.…”

Section: Research Topic 3: Rock-water-carbon Interactions Organicmentioning

confidence: 99%

AstRoMap European Astrobiology Roadmap

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The European AstRoMap project (supported by the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme) surveyed the state of the art of astrobiology in Europe and beyond and produced the first European roadmap for astrobiology research. In the context of this roadmap, astrobiology is understood as the study of the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the context of cosmic evolution; this includes habitability in the Solar System and beyond. The AstRoMap Roadmap identifies five research topics, specifies several key scientific objectives for each topic, and suggests ways to achieve all the objectives. The five AstRoMap Research Topics are • Research Topic 1: Origin and Evolution of Planetary Systems• Research Topic 2: Origins of Organic Compounds in Space• Research Topic 3: Rock-Water-Carbon Interactions, Organic Synthesis on Earth, and Steps to Life• Research Topic 4: Life and Habitability• Research Topic 5: Biosignatures as Facilitating Life DetectionIt is strongly recommended that steps be taken towards the definition and implementation of a European Astrobiology Platform (or Institute) to streamline and optimize the scientific return by using a coordinated infrastructure and funding system. Key Words: Astrobiology roadmap—Europe—Origin and evolution of life—Habitability—Life detection—Life in extreme environments. Astrobiology 16, 201–243.

show abstract

“…It is generally believed that the essential components of primitive chemical automata were organic molecules, i.e., molecules containing carbon and hydrogen atoms associated with oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur atoms, as known in present-day life. With the exception of the small amounts of organic molecules formed in the primitive atmosphere, the majority of carbon molecules on the early Earth were either delivered by carbonaceous chondrites (Pizzarello and Shock, 2010), micrometeorites (Maurette, 2006; Rojas et al ., 2021), and cometary material (Altwegg et al ., 2016), or formed in the subsurface by processes catalysed by aqueous reactions on the surfaces of subsurface rocks (Martin et al ., 2008; Westall et al ., 2018). Rock and minerals constituting the earliest environments would have played an essential role in the processes that led to the emergence of life (Hazen and Sverjensky, 2010).…”

Section: Six Characters In Search Of a Scenariomentioning

confidence: 99%

Astrobiology in Europe, 20 years of expectations

Brack¹

2021

International Journal of Astrobiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

During 20 years, the European astrobiologists collaborated within EANA, the European Astrobiology Network Association, to help European researchers developing astrobiology programmes to share their knowledge, to foster their cooperation, to attract young scientists to this quickly evolving interactive field of research, and to explain astrobiology to the public at large. The experiment of Stanley Miller in 1953 launched the ambitious hope that chemists would be able to shed light on the origins of life by recreating a simple life form in a test tube. However, the dream has not yet been accomplished, despite the great volume of effort and innovation put forward by the scientific community.

show abstract

Classification of Meteorites and Micrometeorites

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

A Hydrothermal-Sedimentary Context for the Origin of Life

A Hydrothermal-Sedimentary Context for the Origin of Life

AstRoMap European Astrobiology Roadmap

Astrobiology in Europe, 20 years of expectations

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About