Organic Carbon in Martian Meteorite (IMAGE)

Carnegie Institution for Science

Organic Carbon in Martian Meteorite

Caption

This is a high-resolution Transmission Electron Micrograph (scale 50nm) of a grain from a Martian meteorite. Reminiscent of a long dinner fork, the organic carbon layers are found between the intact 'tines.' This texture is created when the volcanic minerals of the Martian rock interact with a salty brine and become the anode and cathode of a naturally occurring battery in a corrosion reaction. This reaction would then have enough energy--under certain conditions--to synthesize organic carbon.

Credit

Andrew Steele

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