Clay mineral‐organic matter relationships in the early solar system

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1945-5100.2002.tb01166.x
• Publication Date: 2010-01-26T15:15:18Z
• Authors: Victoria K. Pearson; Mark A. Sephton; Anton T. Kearsley; Philip A. Bland; Ian A. Franchi; Iain Gilmour
• Keywords: Parent body; Abiogenesis; Extraterrestrial Life

Abstract— As the solar system formed, it inherited and perpetuated a rich organic chemistry, molecular products of which are preserved in ancient extraterrestrial objects such as carbonaceous chondrites. These organic‐rich meteorites provide valuable tangible record chemical steps taken towards origin life early system. Chondritic matter is present inorganic meteorite matrix which, CM CI chondrites, contains evidence alteration by liquid water on parent asteroid. An unanswered fundamental question to what extent did aqueous interact or display interdependence? We have used an labelling technique reveal that meteoritic strongly associated with clay minerals. This association suggests minerals may had important trapping possibly catalytic role evolution prior Earth.