NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Fullerenes in Allende MeteoriteThe detection of fullerenes in deposits from meteor impacts has led to renewed interest in the possibility that fullerenes are present in meteorites. Although fullerenes have not previously been detected in the Murchison and Allende meteorites, the Allende meteorite is known to contain several well-ordered graphite particles which are remarkably similar in size and appearance to the fullerene-related structures carbon onions and nanotubes. We report that fullerenes are in fact present in trace amounts in the Allende meteorite. In addition to fullerenes, we detected many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Allende meteorite, consistent with previous reports. In particular, we detected benzofluoranthene and corannulene (C20H10), five-membered ring structures which have been proposed as precursors to the formation of fullerene synthesis, perhaps within circumstellar envelopes or other sites in the interstellar medium.
Document ID
19990087893
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Becker, L.
(California Univ., San Diego La Jolla, CA United States)
Bada, J. L.
(California Univ., San Diego La Jolla, CA United States)
Winans, R. E.
(Argonne National Lab. IL United States)
Bunch, T. E.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
December 8, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Nature
Volume: 372
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.26:207589
NASA/CR-94-207589
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGw-2881
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available