Hydrocarbons in the Haughton Impact Structure, Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada

The occurrence of organic matter in terrestrial impact craters is important to astrobiology, as it may offer insight into possible relationships between impact events and the genesis, distribution and preservation of biologically relevant materials on planets. In particular, the processing and mobilization of preexisting organic material in planetary targets is of interest for studies of pathways to chemical complexity. Observations in old (Palaeozoic, Precambrian) craters indicate that organic carbon can survive large impacts. However, limited exposure and superimposed geological events can make the detailed history of organic matter in old craters difficult to decipher. We present here the first identification of hydrocarbons in the young (23 Ma, Miocene) Haughton impact structure.