Nitrogen-containing compounds in two CR2 meteorites: 15N composition, molecular distribution and precursor molecules

Pizzarello, Sandra; Holmes, William E.

doi:10.1016/j.gca.2009.01.022

Cited by 133 publications

(194 citation statements)

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“…However, only recent comprehensive analyses of the soluble and insoluble organic materials in two pristine* CR2 † meteorites, GRA 95229 (GRA1) and LAP 02342 (LAP) (2,3) revealed what is possibly their most distinguishing characteristic vis-à-vis other carbonaceous chondrites (CC) types (i.e., soluble organic suites that are overall unique for having a preponderance of water-over solvent-soluble compounds). Ammonia is the most abundant single molecule detected in CR2 water extracts, and amino acids are their largest component, unlike, for example, in the Murchison meteorite where hydrocarbons are the dominant molecular species.…”

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confidence: 99%

Large enantiomeric excesses in primitive meteorites and the diverse effects of water in cosmochemical evolution

Pizzarello

Monroe

Лауретта

2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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153

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Carbonaceous chondrites are meteoritic fragments of asteroids that avoided the geological reprocessing of larger planets and allow laboratory probing of early solar-nebula materials. Among these, Renazzo-type (CR) chondrites found in Antarctica appear remarkably pristine and are distinguished by abundant organic materials and water-soluble molecules such as amino acids and ammonia. We present a comprehensive analysis of the organic composition of selected CR meteorites of different petrographic classification and compare compounds' abundance and distribution as they may relate to asteroidal aqueous processing and concomitant evolution of the mineral phases. We found that several CR compounds such as amino acids and sugar alcohols are fully represented in stones with no or minimal water exposure indicating a formation that, if solar, preceded parent body processes. The most pristine CRs also revealed natal enantiomeric excesses (ee) of up to 60%, much larger than ever recorded. However, aqueous alteration appears to affect CR soluble organic composition and abundances, in particular some diastereomeric amino acids may gauge its extent by the consequent racemization of their ee.primitive asteroids | abiotic molecular evolution | solar ices | clays C R meteorites are characterized by several petrologic, geochemical, and isotopic features, such as containing large chondrules, high Fe-Ni metal abundances, and distinct wholerock O-isotopic distributions (1). However, only recent comprehensive analyses of the soluble and insoluble organic materials in two pristine* CR2 † meteorites, GRA 95229 (GRA1) and LAP 02342 (LAP) (2, 3) revealed what is possibly their most distinguishing characteristic vis-à-vis other carbonaceous chondrites (CC) types (i.e., soluble organic suites that are overall unique for having a preponderance of water-over solvent-soluble compounds). Ammonia is the most abundant single molecule detected in CR2 water extracts, and amino acids are their largest component, unlike, for example, in the Murchison meteorite where hydrocarbons are the dominant molecular species.Amino acids have been the most captivating findings in CC meteorites since the fall of Murchison (4) because several of the compounds have exact molecular correspondence with biomolecules and possible pre-biotic significance. In intervening studies, however, the detection of a diverse and apparently stochastic suite of compounds in many meteorites made it difficult to propose how this random mix could have found effective chemical pathways toward the origin of life (5). CR2s have significantly changed that perspective with their main compositional abundances of water-soluble and N-containing molecular species.CC materials relied on a long cosmic history for their formation, which spanned solar as well as presolar environments. In particular, the high D and 13 C isotopic enrichments of some CC organic compounds have revealed their lineage from cold cosmic regimes (6). Among CRs, GRA1 amino acids display δD values up to þ7;200‰ (2), the larges...

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Large enantiomeric excesses in primitive meteorites and the diverse effects of water in cosmochemical evolution

Pizzarello

Monroe

Лауретта

2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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127

153

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“…Consequently, the time of 15 N excess production by the self-shielding effect does not appear to affect the different fractions of 15 N-rich organic matter in Murchison and NWA 801. Pizzarello and Holmes (2009) suggested the late stage of star-forming region for distinct environment of 15 Nrich organics in carbonaceous chondrites. Aléon (2010) also argued the late addition of 15 N-enrichments to organic matter in extraterrestrial materials.…”

Section: Fig 9 Isotopic Compositions Of Organic Matter From Murchismentioning

confidence: 96%

Deuterium- and <sup>15</sup>N-signatures of organic globules in Murchison and Northwest Africa 801 meteorites

2015

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“…In Murchison [48], N isotopic composition seems homogeneous with 15 N ≈ 60‰ (compared to around 1‰ in terrestrial proteins), whereas in the two CR2 LAP02342 and GRA95229, it is more heterogeneous and 15 N is comprised between 70 and 130 ‰ [49]. 13 C are variable [50], with values ranging from −6 to +50‰ (terrestrial value from −35 to −25‰).…”

Section: -P4mentioning

confidence: 97%

Organic and volatile elements in the solar system

Rémusat

2011

EPJ Web of Conferences

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Abstract. Chondrites and comets have accreted primitive materials from the early solar system. Those materials include organics, water and other volatile components. The most primitive chondrites and comets have undergone few modifications on their respective parent bodies and can deliver to laboratories components that were present at the origin of the protosolar nebula. Here I present a review of the organic material and volatile components that have been studied in the most primitive chondrites, and the last data from the stardust mission about the cometary record. This paper focuses on materials that can be studied in laboratories, by mass spectrometry, ion probes or organic chemistry techniques.

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Nitrogen-containing compounds in two CR2 meteorites: 15N composition, molecular distribution and precursor molecules

Cited by 133 publications

References 37 publications

Large enantiomeric excesses in primitive meteorites and the diverse effects of water in cosmochemical evolution

Large enantiomeric excesses in primitive meteorites and the diverse effects of water in cosmochemical evolution

Deuterium- and <sup>15</sup>N-signatures of organic globules in Murchison and Northwest Africa 801 meteorites

Organic and volatile elements in the solar system

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