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. 1976 Oct 1;194(4260):72-6.
doi: 10.1126/science.194.4260.72.

Search for organic and volatile inorganic compounds in two surface samples from the chryse planitia region of Mars

K Biemann, J Oro, P Toulmin 3rd, L E Orgel, A O Nier, D M Anderson, P G Simmonds, D Flory, A V Diaz, D R Rushneck, J A Biller

Search for organic and volatile inorganic compounds in two surface samples from the chryse planitia region of Mars

K Biemann et al. Science. .

Abstract

Two surface samples collected from the Chryse Planitia region of Mars were heated to temperatures up to 500 degrees C, and the volatiles that they evolved were analyzed with a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. Only water and carbon dioxide were detected. This implies that organic compounds have not accumulated to the extent that individual components could be detected at levels of a few parts in 10(9) by weight in our samples. Proposed mechanisms for the accumulation and destruction of organic compounds are discussed in the light of this limit.

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