Organic analysis of the Antarctic carbonaceous chondritesThus far, organic analysis of carbonaceous chondrites has proven the only fruitful means of examining complex organic matter of extraterrestrial origin. The present paper presents the results of organic analysis of two Antarctic meteorites, Allan Hills (77306) and Yamato (74662), which may be considered free from terrestrial contamination. Ion-exchange chromatography, gas chromatography and mass spectrometery of meteorite samples reveal the presence in Yamato of 15 and in Allan Hills of 20 protein and nonprotein amino acids, the most abundant of which are glycine and alanine. Abundances of the D and L enantiomers of each amino acid are also found to be nearly equal. Data thus indicate an abiotic extraterrestrial origin for the matter, and confirm a lack of terrestrial contamination.
Document ID
19820037373
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Kotra, R. K. (Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Shimoyama, A. (Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Ponnamperuma, C. (Maryland, University College Park, MD, United States)
Hare, P. E. (Carnegie Institution of Washington Washington, DC, United States)
Yanai, K. (National Institute of Polar Research Tokyo, Japan)