NASA NTRS · 20000110336
Evidence for Ancient Martian Life
Abstract
Three SNC meteorites ranging in age from 4.5 Ga. to 1.3 Ga. to 165 m.y. contain features suggestive of past biogenic activity on Mars. Because we do not know what past martian life looks like or its physical or chemical properties, the only tools or criteria which the scientific community have to evaluate evidence of past life is to use evidence for early life on earth. There are features within ALH84001's carbonate globules and the preterrestrial aqueous alteration phases of Nakhla and Shergotty which have been interpreted as possible evidence for past life on early Mars. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.
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Gibson, E. K., Jr., Westall, F., McKay, D. S., Thomas-Keprta, K., Wentworth, S., Romanek, C. S.. 1999-07-01. Evidence for Ancient Martian Life. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20000110336
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