Abiotic synthesis of organic molecules from minerals containing traces of dissolved H2O,CO2 and N2 part II: Experimental data

Even though a given mineral, for instance olivine, may contain only traces of dissolved H₂O, CO₂ and N₂ the gases which evolve from its surface during heating comprise (a) highly reduced molecules such as H₂, CH₄, C_mH_n and more complex hydrocarbons, HCN and other N-bearing compounds (b) oxidized species in various degrees of oxidation from formaldehyde and CO to oxygen. These gases evolve sequentially besides H₂O, CO₂ and possibly N₂, their relative amounts being controlled by experimental parameters such as the rate of heating. Preliminary indications of amino acids have been obtained by liquid extraction. The chemical complexity is a consequence of radical reactions between different solute species in the surface and the bulk of the mineral grains. Data for synthetic MgO and for mantle-derived olivine are presented.