Long-chain alkanes preserved in a Martian mudstone
Organic molecules preserved in ancient Martian rocks provide a critical record of the past habitability of Mars and could be chemical biosignatures. Experiments conducted by the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument onboard the Curiosity rover have previously reported several classes of indigenous chlorinated and sulfur-containing organic compounds in Gale crater sedimentary rocks, with chemical structures of up to six carbons. Here, we report the detection of decane (C<sub>10</sub>H<sub>22</sub>), undecane (C<sub>11</sub>H<sub>24</sub>), and dodecane (C<sub>12</sub>H<sub>26</sub>) at the tens of pmol level, released from the Cumberland drilled mudstone sample, using a modified SAM analytical procedure optimized for the detection of larger organic molecules. Laboratory experiments support the hypothesis that the alkanes detected were originally preserved in the mudstone as long-chain carboxylic acids. The origin of these molecules remains uncertain, as they could be derived from either abiotic or biological sources.
Authors
- Daniel P. GLAVIN (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7779-7765)
- Ross H. Williams (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8843-5257)
- A. Steele (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9643-2841)
- Felipe Gómez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9977-7060)
- J. L. Eigenbrode (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3089-1986)
- Ophélie M. Mcintosh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8714-2586)
- Cyril Szopa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0090-4056)
- H. B. Franz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9716-5597)
- Benito Prats (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3869-3351)
- M. Millán (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8887-4313)
- P. R. Mahaffy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1896-1726)
- J. M. T. Lewis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6926-6980)
- Roger E. Summons (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7144-8537)
- Amy J. Williams (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6299-0845)
- Samuel Teinturier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1755-9524)
- C. A. Malespin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5852-5016)
- Christopher H. House (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4926-4985)
- A. Buch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2097-7252)
- R. Navarro‐González (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6078-7621)
- Caroline Freissinet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6528-330X)
- Jason P. Dworkin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3961-8997)
- P. D. Archer
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Planetary Science Institute (US)
- Goddard Space Flight Center (US)
- Universities Space Research Association (US)
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
- Howard University (US)
- Carnegie Institution for Science (US)
- Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
- University of Florida (US)
- Sorbonne Université (FR)
- CentraleSupélec (FR)
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (ES)
- Centro de Astrobiología (ES)
- Johnson Space Center (US)
- Laboratoire atmosphères, milieux, observations spatiales (FR)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
- University of Maryland, College Park (US)
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Published
- 2025-03-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2420580122
- Citations
- 35
- Primary Topic
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 40.42
Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México