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Fullerenes in the 1.85-billion-year-old Sudbury impact structure
L Becker1, J L Bada, R E Winans
1Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0212B, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|July 29, 1994
Summary
Fullerenes (C60 and C70) were discovered in the Sudbury impact structure. Sulfur prevented their oxidation over 1.85 billion years, suggesting extraterrestrial origins from the impactor.
Area of Science:
- Geochemistry
- Astrochemistry
- Impact Cratering Studies
Background:
- Fullerenes (C60 and C70) are carbon allotropes with potential extraterrestrial origins.
- The Sudbury impact structure provides a unique geological record of a major extraterrestrial impact event.
- Understanding fullerene preservation in impact breccias is crucial for astrobiology and geochemistry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize fullerenes within shock-produced breccias of the Sudbury impact structure.
- To investigate the preservation mechanisms of fullerenes over geological timescales in an impact environment.
- To explore the potential extraterrestrial origin of fullerenes based on their occurrence in impactites.
Main Methods:
- Laser desorption mass spectrometry (LDMS) for fullerene detection.
- Laser desorption post-ionization mass spectrometry (LDPI-MS) for enhanced sensitivity and characterization.
- High-resolution electron-impact mass spectrometry (HR-EI-MS) for precise mass determination and isotopic analysis.
- Geochemical analysis of breccia matrix and associated mineral phases.
Main Results:
- Fullerenes (C60 and C70) were unequivocally identified in Onaping Formation breccias from the Sudbury impact structure.
- The concentration of C60 was found to be in the parts-per-million range.
- Evidence suggests fullerenes were synthesized in the impact plume from the bolide's carbon.
- Sulfur, present as sulfide-silicate complexes, appears to have inhibited fullerene oxidation over 1.85 billion years.
Conclusions:
- The discovery confirms the presence of fullerenes in terrestrial impact structures, supporting their formation during hypervelocity impacts.
- The preservation of fullerenes is attributed to encapsulation within sulfide-silicate complexes, shielding them from oxidation.
- These findings have significant implications for understanding carbon cycling in impact events and the potential for preserving extraterrestrial organic molecules on Earth and other planetary bodies.
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