Limits on methane release and generation via hypervelocity impact of Martian analogue materials
The quantity of methane in Mars' atmosphere, and the potential mechanism(s) responsible for its production, are still unknown. In order to test viable, abiotic, methangenic processes, we experimentally investigated two possible impact mechanisms for generating methane. In the first suite of exp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
2014
|
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/51808 |
| _version_ | 1848758776291655680 |
|---|---|
| author | Price, M. Ramkissoon, N. McMahon, S. Miljkovic, Katarina Parnell, J. Wozniakiewicz, P. Kearsley, A. Blamey, N. Cole, M. Burchell, M. |
| author_facet | Price, M. Ramkissoon, N. McMahon, S. Miljkovic, Katarina Parnell, J. Wozniakiewicz, P. Kearsley, A. Blamey, N. Cole, M. Burchell, M. |
| author_sort | Price, M. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The quantity of methane in Mars' atmosphere, and the potential mechanism(s) responsible for its production, are still unknown. In order to test viable, abiotic, methangenic processes, we experimentally investigated two possible impact mechanisms for generating methane. In the first suite of experiments, basaltic rocks were impacted at 5 km s-1 and the quantity of gases (CH4, H2, He, N2, O2, Ar and CO 2) released by the impacts was measured. In the second suite of experiments, a mixture of water ice, CO2 ice and anhydrous olivine grains was impacted to see if the shock induced rapid serpentinization of the olivine, and thus production of methane. The results of both suites of experiments demonstrate that impacts (at scales achievable in the laboratory) do not give rise to detectably enhanced quantities of methane release above background levels. Supporting hydrocode modelling was also performed to gain insight into the pressures and temperatures occurring during the impact events. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:49:22Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-51808 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:49:22Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-518082018-03-29T09:08:38Z Limits on methane release and generation via hypervelocity impact of Martian analogue materials Price, M. Ramkissoon, N. McMahon, S. Miljkovic, Katarina Parnell, J. Wozniakiewicz, P. Kearsley, A. Blamey, N. Cole, M. Burchell, M. The quantity of methane in Mars' atmosphere, and the potential mechanism(s) responsible for its production, are still unknown. In order to test viable, abiotic, methangenic processes, we experimentally investigated two possible impact mechanisms for generating methane. In the first suite of experiments, basaltic rocks were impacted at 5 km s-1 and the quantity of gases (CH4, H2, He, N2, O2, Ar and CO 2) released by the impacts was measured. In the second suite of experiments, a mixture of water ice, CO2 ice and anhydrous olivine grains was impacted to see if the shock induced rapid serpentinization of the olivine, and thus production of methane. The results of both suites of experiments demonstrate that impacts (at scales achievable in the laboratory) do not give rise to detectably enhanced quantities of methane release above background levels. Supporting hydrocode modelling was also performed to gain insight into the pressures and temperatures occurring during the impact events. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/51808 10.1017/S1473550413000384 restricted |
| spellingShingle | Price, M. Ramkissoon, N. McMahon, S. Miljkovic, Katarina Parnell, J. Wozniakiewicz, P. Kearsley, A. Blamey, N. Cole, M. Burchell, M. Limits on methane release and generation via hypervelocity impact of Martian analogue materials |
| title | Limits on methane release and generation via hypervelocity impact of Martian analogue materials |
| title_full | Limits on methane release and generation via hypervelocity impact of Martian analogue materials |
| title_fullStr | Limits on methane release and generation via hypervelocity impact of Martian analogue materials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Limits on methane release and generation via hypervelocity impact of Martian analogue materials |
| title_short | Limits on methane release and generation via hypervelocity impact of Martian analogue materials |
| title_sort | limits on methane release and generation via hypervelocity impact of martian analogue materials |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/51808 |