Meteorite reveals red planet's ancestry

17 Jun 2002

While the controversy continues over whether a Martian meteorite bears evidence of ancient life on Mars, a Purdue University scientist says the rocky fragments cantell us something about the early life of the planet itself.

Michael Lipschutz, professor of chemistry who has analyzed trace elements in 11 of the 12 known Martian meteorites, says the samples contain a different mix ofvolatile elements than do rock samples from Earth, indicating that the Red Planet was created from a different nebular womb.

Prior studies of the oxygen isotopes in the Martian meteorites indicated that they all came from the same planet. But other studies, using nonvolatile chemical markers,had revealed differences in their composition, indicating that the samples had encountered different experiences as the planet formed and evolved. Lipschutz presentedhis findings at the 28th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston.