Search for Past Life on Mars: Possible Relic Biogenic Activity in Martian Meteorite ALH84001
1996/08/16 by D. S. McKay, E. K. Gibson, K. L. Thomas-Keprta +6 · 1 voice · 57 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Geology and Paleoclimatology Research #Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils #Planetary Science and Exploration
paper · doi:10.1126/science.273.5277.924
openalex publication_date 1996/08/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
Abstract
Fresh fracture surfaces of the martian meteorite ALH84001 contain abundant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These fresh fracture surfaces also display carbonate globules. Contamination studies suggest that the PAHs are indigenous to the meteorite. High-resolution scanning and transmission electron microscopy study of surface textures and internal structures of selected carbonate globules show that the globules contain fine-grained, secondary phases of single-domain magnetite and Fe-sulfides. The carbonate globules are similar in texture and size to some terrestrial bacterially induced carbonate precipitates. Although inorganic formation is possible, formation of the globules by biogenic processes could explain many of the observed features, including the PAHs. The PAHs, the carbonate globules, and their associated secondary mineral phases and textures could thus be fossil remains of a past martian biota.
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