GEOC 62 |
| Unequivocal evidence of biosignatures in extraterrestrial and ancient terrestrial materials would have a profound impact on current understanding of the origins of life. Laser desorption Fourier transform mass spectrometry (LD-FTMS) has been used to detect various biological and organic compounds associated with different minerals. For natural samples, LD-FTMS requires no sample preparation and offers high sensitivity to acquire spectra with a single laser shot for heterogeneously distributed biosignatures. Some organics compounds (i.e., polyaromatic hydrocarbons) self-ionize for easy detection, but most organic compounds require ionization assistance. Therefore, we are exploring how well different minerals assist in ionization, a process called geomatrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (GALDI). The effectiveness of GALDI appears to depend not only on the composition of the biological molecule and mineral moiety, but also on how they are associated. Biological or organic signatures are more easily obtained from minerals if the organic compound is closely integrated with the mineral matrix. |
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Surface and Molecular Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry
1:30 PM-4:15 PM, Wednesday, August 22, 2007 Boston Park Plaza -- St. James Rm, Oral
Sci-Mix
Division of Geochemistry |