On the Habitability of Desert Varnish: a Combined Study by Micro-Raman Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction and Methylated Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
[en] In 2020, the ESA ExoMars and NASA Mars 2020 missions will be launched to Mars, searching for evidence of past and present life. In preparation for these missions, terrestrial analogue samples of rock formations on Mars are studied in detail in order to optimize the scientific information that the analytical instrumentation will return. Desert varnishes are thin mineral coatings found on rocks in arid and semi-arid environments on Earth that are recognized as analogue samples. During the formation of desert varnishes (which takes many hundreds of years) organic matter is incorporated and microorganisms may also play an active role in the formation process. During this study, four complementary analytical techniques proposed for Mars missions (X-rays diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, elemental analysis and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) were used to interrogate samples of desert varnish and to describe their capacity to sustain life under extreme scenario. For the first time, both the geochemistry and the organic compounds associated with desert varnish are described using an identical set of samples. XRD and Raman spectroscopy measurements were used to non-destructively interrogate the mineralogy of the samples. In addition, the use of Raman spectroscopy instruments enabled the detection of β-carotene, a highly Raman active biomarker. The content and the nature of the organic material in the samples was further investigated using elemental analysis and methylated Py-GC-MS and a bacterial origin was determined to be likely. In the context of planetary exploration, we describe the habitable nature of desert varnish based on the bio-geochemical composition of the samples. Possible
interference of the geological substrate on the detectability of pyrolysis products is also suggested.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Malherbe, Cédric ; Université de Liège > Département de chimie (sciences) > Chimie analytique inorganique
Hutchinson, Ian; University of Leicester > Physics and Astronomy
Ingley, Richard; University of Leicester > Physics and Astronomy
Boom, Arnoud; University of Leicester > Geography
Carr, Andrew; University of Leicester > Geography
Edwards, Howell; University of Leicester > Physics and Astronomy
Vertruyen, Bénédicte ; Université de Liège > Département de chimie (sciences) > Chimie inorganique structurale
Eppe, Gauthier ; Université de Liège > Département de chimie (sciences) > Chimie analytique inorganique
Language :
English
Title :
On the Habitability of Desert Varnish: a Combined Study by Micro-Raman Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction and Methylated Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Publication date :
2017
Journal title :
Astrobiology
ISSN :
1531-1074
eISSN :
1557-8070
Publisher :
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., New Rochelle, United States - New York
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