A search for porphyrin biomarkers in Nonesuch Shale and extraterrestrial samples.

An organic solvent extract of billion year old Nonesuch Shale was examined for porphyrins by means of fluorometry and high resolution mass spectrometry. It appears to contain at least three or more classes of porphyrins, one similar to tetraphenyl porphin and the others more complex. Many are apparently chelated with copper, nickel, zinc, iron and vanadyl and are highly aromatic. We have also examined the extracts of Apollo 11, 12 and 14 surface fines for porphyrins by spectrophotofluorometry, but we found none.