Thanks ShadowAce. It's almost as if Thomas Gold were correct.
Highly oxidized iron is abundant on Mars, and very small-grained magnetite can then be expected to be one of the accumulated residues of microbial processes; so can iron sulfide and methane-derived carbonates. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are the large molecules that might remain in a rock that originally contained crude oil but then was exposed for millions of years to the high vacuum of space. All these substances have been found in the discovery meteorite, closely packaged to each other, and this by itself would make a strong case for the microbial interpretation. In addition, there are small objects seen under scanning electron microscopy that may well be fossils of microbes. While the last item by itself would not be conclusive evidence, the combination of this together with oil and the three residue products make a strong case for the microbial explanation. It is true that each step can occur without biological intervention, but the chance of finding by chance the evidence for all three solids in a small volume, together with hydrocarbons, seems to be very low. Many terrestrial oil and gas wells show just such an association (but an association with helium also, which the meteorite could not have transported through space).
Thomas Gold | Life on other Planets | May 1997
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Some related topics, selected from the 2200+ in the "Mars" keyword:.
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- NASA's Curiosity Rover Detects Spike in Methane on Mars [2019]
- Curiosity rover confirms source of seasonal methane spikes on Mars [2019]
- There Is Definitely Methane on Mars, Scientists Say. But Is It a Sign of Life? [2019]
- "Mars Trace Gas Orbiter begins search for methane" The John Batchelor Show with Robert Zimmerman [2018]
- Curiosity Finds Ancient Mars Likely Had More Oxygen and Was More Hospitable to Life [2016]
- Mystery Methane on Mars: The Saga Continues [2015]
- NASA-funded company to produce oxygen on Mars using bacteria [2015]
- Scientists are trying to brew oxygen on Mars [2015]
- Astronomy Picture of the Day -- The Mysterious Methane of Mars [2014]
- India's First Mars Mission Set to Blast off Seeking Methane Signature [2013]
- Curiosity rover's methane result challenges life theory [2013]
- Mars had an oxygen-rich atmosphere four billion years ago [2013]
- No Sign of Methane on Mars; Abstract Thought Melts Political Convictions [2012]
- Curiosity set to weigh in on Mars methane puzzle [2012]
- Methane-producing mineral discovered on Mars [2009]
- Martian methane belch: From rocks or microbes? [2009]
- Clouds of Methane May Mean Life on Mars [2009]
- Plumes of methane identified on Mars - Finding could influence choice of landing site for Mars... [2008]
- Valley Networks On Mars Formed During Long Period Of Episodic Flooding [2008]
- Methane on Mars: the plot thickens [2005]
- Report: Mars Cold, Bitter Planet for a Long, Long Time [2005]
- 'Four-billion-year chill' on Mars [2005]
- NASA Scientist: 'Mars Could be Biologically Alive' (Methane Confirmed) [2005]
- Martian Water Vapor and Methane Overlap in Equatorial Regions (Formaldehyde!?) [2004]
- Mars Express Confirms Methane in the Martian Atmosphere [2004]