Hydrocarbons in the Solar System — Biogenic Source Rock Signatures in Carbonaceous Chondrites and Comet Dust

Abstract

Previous analysis of various carbonaceous chondrites (CC) and comet dust by various scientists since 1960s, recent findings of abundance of water, oil and gas within various Saturn and Jupiter moons, and key geological features and methane on Mars may suggest the presence of abundant petroleum hydrocarbons within our Solar System. Recent geochemical and other analytical data of various CCs indicate that CCs are organic rich and contain abundant macromolecular components and oil like extractable biomarkers that closely resemble terrestrial hydrocarbon source rock kerogen and bitumen usually observed in shale and carbonates. The bacteriomorphic microstructures preserved in these CCs closely resemble remnant terrestrial palynomorphs of microbial (prokaryotic and archaeoprokaryotic) ecosystems established on Earth over 3.5 Ga ago. This data could be quite significant for future oil and gas prospects on Mars in future as the early geology of planet Mars and Earth are quite similar and both planets had water for a long period of time (except for the initial phase of planet formation). Similar to terrestrial oil-prone source rocks on Earth, these extraterrestrial palynomorphs and their geochemical signatures within the CCs (including from Mars) and comet dust thus could be linked to biogenic and thermogenic hydrocarbons in the Solar System. Consequently, the Solar system possibly represents a connected biosphere with transfers taking place on dynamic timescales in millions of years. Now the question that is before us is how life has been transported in various planets of the Solar System. It was suggested that life could be transported in the Solar System planets possibly either from the (a) purging the primordial “comet dust” or (b) slow impact of carbonaceous meteoritic showers. The presence of oil and gas in the deltaic, other deeper section of the Martian crust and atmosphere would be quite pertinent in developing the future greenhouse effect and human settlement on Mars.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90216 ©2015 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Denver, CO., May 31 - June 3, 2015