The delivery of organic matter from asteroids and comets to the early surface of Mars

Earth Moon Planets. 1996:72:469-74. doi: 10.1007/BF00117551.

Abstract

Carbon delivered to the Earth by interplanetary dust particles may have been an important source of pre-biotic organic matter (Anders, 1989). Interplanetary dust is shown to deliver an order-of-magnitude higher surface concentration of carbon onto Mars than onto Earth, suggesting interplanetary dust may be an important source of carbon on Mars as well.

MeSH terms

  • Carbon / chemistry
  • Cosmic Dust*
  • Earth, Planet
  • Evolution, Chemical
  • Evolution, Planetary
  • Exobiology*
  • Extraterrestrial Environment
  • Mars*
  • Meteoroids*
  • Minor Planets*
  • Particle Size

Substances

  • Cosmic Dust
  • Carbon