Organic constituents of the carbonaceous chondrites

From a brief discussion of forms of meteorite carbon it is concluded that almost all the carbon in the carbonaceous chondrites is present as organic matter. Attempts to extract and identify this organic matter are then reviewed. It is shown that only 25 per cent has been extracted and only about 5 per cent chemically characterized. Of this 5 per cent most is a complex mixture of hydroxylated aromatic acids together with various hydrocarbons of the paraffin, naphthene and aromatic series. Small amounts of amino acids, sugars and fatty acids also are present. The possible chemical nature of the major fraction is discussed. It is suggested to be a mixture of high-molecular weight aromatic and hydrocarbon polymers.Possible sources of contamination of the meteorites are described and evidence indicating a general lack of organic contaminants is presented. It is concluded that most of the organic constituents are indigenous to the meteorites and are extra terrestial in origin. Synthetic processes for the compounds are mentioned and it is concluded that the organic material is probably of abiogenic origin.A brief review on studies of organized elements contained within the meteorites is presented. Difficulties of identification are discussed and photographs of some micro-structures of several carbonaceous chondrites are presented. No final conclusion about the nature of these objects is possible, but some appear to be various indigenous organic and mineral structures, while others are terrestrial contaminants.Contribution from the Chemistry Section, Space Science Division of Jet Propulsion Laboratory.