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Survivability of 1‐Chloronapthalene During Simulated Early Diagenesis: Implications for Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Detection on Mars
Author(s) -
Royle Samuel H.,
Tan Jonathan,
Kounaves Samuel P.,
Sephton Mark A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: planets
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9100
pISSN - 2169-9097
DOI - 10.1029/2018je005711
Subject(s) - mars exploration program , diagenesis , martian , survivability , sedimentary rock , hydrocarbon , geology , astrobiology , environmental science , geochemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering , aerospace engineering , physics
Abstract All missions to Mars which have attempted to detect organic molecules have detected simple chlorohydrocarbons, the source of which has yet to be firmly established. This study assessed the likelihood of these chlorinated molecules being indigenous to the sedimentary units in which they were detected or if they were chlorinated during analysis. The survivability of 1‐chloronapthalene was examined via hydrous pyrolysis experiments and its dechlorination kinetics were determined. The results of these experiments were used to model the survivability of this simple chlorohydrocarbon under Mars‐relevant diagenetic conditions using the Sheepbed mudstone unit as a case study. It was found that 1‐chloronapthalene was rapidly dechlorinated under Noachian conditions, and thus, the detected Martian chlorohydrocarbons are unlikely to be ancient and probably formed within the rover's sample handling chain during analysis.