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15 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1997

The effects of atmospheric [CO2] on carbon isotope fractionation and magnesium incorporation into biogenic marine calcite

The influences of atmospheric carbon dioxide on the fractionation of carbon isotopes and the magnesium incorporation into biogenic marine calcite were investigated using samples of the calcareous alga Amphiroa and benthic foraminifer Sorites grown in the Biosphere 2 Ocean system under variable atmospheric CO2 concentrations (approximately 500 to 1200 ppm). Carbon isotope fractionation was studied in both the organic matter and the skeletal carbonate. Magnesium analysis was to be performed on the carbonate removed during decalcification. These data have not been collected due to technical problems. Carbon isotope data from Amphiroa yields a linear relation between [CO2] and Delta(sup 13)C(sub Corg)values suggesting that the fractionation of carbon isotopes during photosynthesis is positively correlated with atmospheric [CO2]. [CO2] and Delta(sup 13)C(sub Corg) values for Sorites produce a relation that is best described by a hyperbolic function where Delta(sup 13)C(sub Corg) values increase between 300 and 700 ppm and decrease from 700 to 1200 ppm. Further investigation of this relation and Sorites physiology is needed.

Vieira, Veronica↗
NASA NTRS1999

Iron isotope biosignatures

The (56)Fe/(54)Fe of Fe-bearing phases precipitated in sedimentary environments varies by 2.5 per mil (delta(56)Fe values of +0.9 to -1. 6 per mil). In contrast, the (56)Fe/(54)Fe of Fe-bearing phases in igneous rocks from Earth and the moon does not vary measurably (delta(56)Fe = 0.0 +/- 0.3 per mil). Experiments with dissimilatory Fe-reducing bacteria of the genus Shewanella algae grown on a ferrihydrite substrate indicate that the delta(56)Fe of ferrous Fe in solution is isotopically lighter than the ferrihydrite substrate by 1.3 per mil. Therefore, the range in delta(56)Fe values of sedimentary rocks may reflect biogenic fractionation, and the isotopic composition of Fe may be used to trace the distribution of microorganisms in modern and ancient Earth.

NASA Center JPL↗
NASA NTRS2006

Stable Carbon Isotopic Signatures of Abiotic Organics from Hydrothermal Synthesis Experiments

Stable carbon isotopes can be powerful biogeochemical markers in the study of life's origins. Biogenic carbon fixation produces organics that are depleted in C-13 by about -20 to -30%0. Less attention has been paid to the isotopic signatures of abiotic processes. The possibility of abiotic processes producing organics with morphologies and isotopic signatures in the biogenic range has been at the center of recent debate over the Earth's earliest microfossils. The abiotic synthesis of organic compounds in hydrothermal environments is one possible source of endogenous organic matter to the prebiotic earth. Simulated hydrothermal settings have been shown to synthesize, among other things, single chain amphiphiles and simple lipids from a mix of CO, CO2, and H2. A key characteristic of these amphiphilic molecules is the ability to self-assemble in aqueous phases into more organized structures called vesicles, which form a selectively permeable boundary and serve the function of containing and concentrating other organic molecules. The ability to form cell like structures also makes these compounds more likely to be mistaken for biogenic. Hydrothermal simulation experiments were conducted from oxalic or formic acid in water at 175 C for 72 hr. The molecular and isotopic composition of the products of these reactions were determined and compared to biogenic fractionations . Preliminary results indicate isotopic fractionation during abiotic hydrocarbon synthesis in hydrothermal environments is on par with biological carbon fixation.

Stern, Jennifer C.↗
NASA NTRS2003

The Stable Isotope Fractionation of Abiotic Reactions: A Benchmark in the Detection of Life

One very important tool in the analysis of biogenic, and potentially biogenic, samples is the study of their stable isotope distributions. The isotope distribution of a sample depends on the process(es) that created it. One important application of the analysis of C & N stable isotope ratios has been in the determination of whether organic matter in a sample is of biological origin or was produced abiotically. For example, the delta C-13 of organic material found embedded in phosphate grains was cited as a critical part of the evidence for life in 3.8 billion year old samples. The importance of such analysis in establishing biogenicity was highlighted again by the role this issue played in the recent debate over the validity of what had been accepted as the Earth s earliest microfossils. These kinds of analysis imply a comparison with the fractionation that one would have seen if the organic material had been produced by alternative, abiotic, pathways. Could abiotic reactions account for the same level of fractionation? Additionally, since the fractionation can vary between different abiotic reactions, understanding their fractionations can be important in distinguishing what reactions may have been significant in the formation of different abiological samples (such as extraterrestrial samples). There is however, a scarcity of data on the fractionation of carbon and nitrogen by abiotic reactions. In order to interpret properly what the stable isotope ratios of samples tell us about their biotic or abiotic nature, more needs to be known about how abiotic reactions fractionate C and N. Carbon isotope fractionations have been studied for a few abiotic processes. These studies presumed the presence of a reducing atmosphere, focusing on reactions involving spark discharge, W photolysis of reducing gas mixtures, and cyanide polymerization in the presence of ammonia. They did find that the initial products showed a depletion in I3C with values in the range of a few per mil to as low as -60 % (potentially comparable to that which accompanies the biosynthesis of organic matter). We need to understand what kind of fractionations are observed with reactions under the non-reducing or mildly reducing conditions now thought to be present on the early Earth. While nitrogen is receiving increased attention as a tool for these kinds of analyses, almost nothing is known about the isotope fractionation that one would expect for abiotic sources of fixed/reduced nitrogen. This project will measure the fixation from a series of abiotic reactions that may have been present on the early Earth (and other terrestrial planets) and produced organic material that could have ended up in the rock record. The work will look at a number of reactions, under a non- reducing, or mildly reducing, atmosphere, covering sources of prebiotic organic C & N from shock heating, to photochemistry, to hydrothermal reactions. Some reactions that we plan to study are; Shock heating of a non-reducing atmosphere to produce CO and NO (in collaboration with Chris McKay), formation of formaldehyde (and related compounds) from COY the formation of ammonia from nitrogen oxides (ultimately from NO) by ferrous iron reduction, and the hydrothermal synthesis of compounds including the hydrocarboxylation/hydrocarbonylation reaction (in collaboration with George Cody), reactions of oxalate to form hydrocarbons and other oxygenated compounds and the formation of lipids from oxalic/formic acid (in collaboration with Tom McCollom), and reactions of carbon monoxide & carbon dioxide with N2, ammonia or nitritehitrate to form hydrogen cyanide, nitriles, ammonia/amines and nitrous

Summers, David P.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Iron-Isotopic Fractionation Studies Using Multiple Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

The importance of Fe biogeochemistry has stimulated interest in Fe isotope fractionation. Recent studies using thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) and a "double spike" demonstrate the existence of biogenic Fe isotope effects. Here, we assess the utility of multiple-collector inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry(MC-ICP-MS) with a desolvating sample introduction system for Fe isotope studies, and present data on Fe biominerals produced by a thermophilic bacterium. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Anbar, A. D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Biologically mediated isotope fractionations - Biochemistry, geochemical significance and preservation in the earth's oldest sediments

Preferential metabolization of isotopically light carbon and sulfur has resulted in a fractionation of the stable isotopes of these elements on a global scale, with the light species (C-12, S-32) markedly concentrated in biogenic materials. Since the biological effects are basically retained when carbon and sulfur are incorporated in sediments, the respective fractionations are propagated into the rock section of the geochemical cycle, this having consequently caused a characteristic bipartition of both elements between 'light' and 'heavy' crustal reservoirs. Preservation of the biological isotope effects in sedimentary rocks makes it possible to trace the underlying biochemical processes back over most of the geological record. According to the available evidence, biological (autotrophic) carbon fixation arose prior to 3.5(if not 3.8) billion years ago, while the emergence of dissimilatory sulfate reduction antedates the appearance of the oldest presumably bacteriogenic sulfur isotope patterns in rocks between 2.7 and 2.8 billion years old. Hence, biological control of the terrestrial carbon and sulfur cycles has been established very early in the earth's history.

Schidlowski, M.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Statistical Classification of Biosignature Information using Multiple Instrument Observations

The accurate identification of biosignatures (indications of life) from data taken from remote or in situ planetary exploration is one of the most important challenges in astrobiology, the interdisciplinary field examining habitability and the potential for extraterrestrial life. This study employs machine learning algorithms to optimize the identification of biosignatures, with an emphasis on those which are agnostic to a specific biochemical basis. We exploit the wealth of terrestrial data available from biogenic and abiogenic systems to enhance efficient feature prioritization. Our dataset, pulled from public databases and laboratory recorded measurements, includes elemental abundance, isotopic fractionation, and VNIR/Raman spectra The data curation process included standardization for detection limits and ranges. Subsequent feature extraction yielded detailed inputs for machine learning, including combinations of elemental content, isotopic ratios, and parameters of spectral peaks and troughs. Feature significance was evaluated across diverse machine learning methodologies, such as k-nearest neighbors, logistic regression, Random Forest, support vector machines, and Gaussian Naïve Bayes, along with a combined voting classifier. We utilized Receiver Operating Characteristic Area Under the Curve (ROC AUC) across 2,000 50% test-train splits as a robust metric of model performance. Results revealed a promising ROC AUC of 0.853 for the combined voting classifier. Removing elemental abundance data notably reduced model accuracy (13% decrease in AUC), highlighting its critical role in biosignature detection. Several other individual data features exhibited significance within their respective data types, offering additional granularity. This research fortifies the relevance of machine learning to astrobiology, potentially enhancing life detection missions by allowing algorithmic prioritization of high-interest samples for further investigation. Future work will refine data standardization, expand the dataset to include more terrestrial systems, and incorporate convolutional neural networks for spectral feature extraction. The potential for public data sharing is also under exploration, reinforcing our commitment to collective scientific advancement.

Statistical↗
NASA NTRS1993

Further analysis of LDEF FRECOPA micrometeoroid remnants

In the Al collectors of experiment A0138-1 of the French Cooperative Payload (FRECOPA) payload, we identified a population of small craters (3-9 microns in diameter) induced by the impacts of micron-sized grains, mainly of extraterrestrial origin. Chemical analyses of the Interplanetary Dust Particle (IDP) remnants were made in the bottoms and on the rims of the craters, in addition to immediate off-rim areas. So far, the compositional investigation of the craters by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) has shown evidence of an extraterrestrial origin for the impacting grains. The systematic presence of C and O in the residues has been reported and may be compared with the existence of particles showing high proportions of biogenic light elements and detected in the close environment of P-Halley comet nucleus (called CHON particles). An analytical protocol has been established in order to extract molecular and possible isotopic information on these grains, a fraction of which could be of cometary origin. Although these very small craters may show crater features that are typical of the larger Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) population (greater than 50 microns), some show unique morphologies that we have not previously observed. Our initial Laser Induced Mass Spectrometry (LIMS) analytical results show strong signals for nitrogen-bearing ions in craters characterized by high C and O contents; they also suggest that carbon contents in some craters could exceed that known for carbonaceous chondrites.

Borg, Janet↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Classifying Agnostic Biosignatures using Raman, VNIR, and Elemental Data

How can we use our current wealth of terrestrial data, encompassing biogenic and abiogenic systems, to determine the distinguishing properties of life? SCOBI (Statistical Classification of Biosignature Information) uses machine learning techniques to algorithmically identify combinations of measurements that are “indicative of life”. A set of ~1000 observations, comprising elemental abundance, isotopic fractionation, VNIR reflectance, and (in progress) Raman spectra, have been assembled from existing literature and databases. The observations cover systems classified as “indicative alive” (e.g., cells, vegetation), “indicative non-alive” (e.g., fossils, teeth), “mixed indicative” (e.g., soil, pond water), or “non-indicative” (e.g., rocks, meteorites). VNIR data was preprocessed by linear interpolation from 400-2100 nm and smoothed with a Savitzky-Golay filter. To limit the amount of Earth-biochemistry-specific (non-agnostic) information included, the first five spectral features extracted were number of peaks, number of troughs, mean reflectance, mean peak width, and broadest peak width. To help further emphasize agnostic biosignatures, Earth-specific features such as chlorophylls have been manually flagged so that feature importance with and without them can be compared. Classifiers including k-nearest neighbors (KNN), Gaussian Naïve Bayes (GNB), logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM) were implemented, as was a combination voting classifier. Performance metrics included false positive rates, false negative rates, and AUC with 50-50 test/train splits (Monte Carlo simulations). Key takeaways from this stage, prior to the inclusion of Raman spectra, are (1) the overall success rate of 0.933 AUC was most heavily influenced by the elemental abundance data; and (2) VNIR reflectance had the lowest classification performance with 0.52 AUC (58% of objects correctly classified). The next steps are to complete integration of Raman spectral data and to improve the approach to pre-processing and feature extraction for both types of spectral data, such as automated baseline removal, whole spectrum matching, and dimensionality reduction.

Biosignatures↗
NASA NTRS1991

Isotopic constraints on the origin of meteoritic organic matter

Salient features of the isotopic distribution of H, C and N in the organic material found in carbonaceous meteorites are noted. Most organic fractions are strongly enriched in D with respect to the D/H ratio characteristic of H2 in the protosolar system; substantial variations in C-13/C-12 ratio are found among different molecular species, with oxidised species tending to be C-13 enriched relative to reduced species; some homologous series reveal systematic decrease in C-13/C-12 with increasing C number; considerable variation in N-15/N-14 ratio is observed within organic matter, though no systematic pattern to its distribution has yet emerged; no interelement correlations have been observed between isotope enrichments for the different biogenic elements. The isotopic complexity echoes the molecular diversity observed in meteoritic organic matter and suggests that the organic matter was formed by multiple processes and/or from multiple sources. However, existence of a few systematic patterns points towards survival of isotopic signatures characteristic of one or more specific processes. The widespread D enrichment implies either survival of many species of interstellar molecule or synthesis from a reservoir containing a significant interstellar component. Several of the questions raised above can be addressed by more detailed determination of the distribution of the H, C and N isotopes among different well-characterized molecular fractions. Thus, the present study is aimed at discovering whether the different amino acids have comparable D enrichments, which would imply local synthesis from a D-enriched reservoir, or very viable D enrichments, which would imply survival of some interstellar amino acids. The same approach is also being applied to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Because the analytical technique employed (secondary ion mass spectrometry) can acquire data for all three isotopic systems from each molecular fraction, any presently obscured interelement isotopic correlation should also be revealed, which will aid in identifying pertinent synthetic processes.

Kerridge, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Lunar and Planetary Science XXXV: Astrobiology

The presentations in this session are: 1. A Prototype Life Detection Chip 2. The Geology of Atlantis Basin, Mars, and Its Astrobiological Interest 3. Collecting Bacteria Together with Aerosols in the Martian Atmosphere by the FOELDIX Experimental Instrument Developed with a Nutrient Detector Pattern: Model Measurements of Effectivity 4. 2D and 3D X-ray Imaging of Microorganisms in Meteorites Using Complexity Analysis to Distinguish Field Images of Stromatoloids from Surrounding Rock Matrix in 3.45 Ga Strelley Pool Chert, Western Australia 4. Characterization of Two Isolates from Andean Lakes in Bolivia Short Time Scale Evolution of Microbiolites in Rapidly Receding Altiplanic Lakes: Learning How to Recognize Changing Signatures of Life 5. The Effect of Salts on Electrospray Ionization of Amino Acids in the Negative Mode 6. Determination of Aromatic Ring Number Using Multi-Channel Deep UV Native Fluorescence 7. Microbial D/H Fractionation in Extraterrestrial Materials: Application to Micrometeorites and Mars 8. Carbon Isotope Characteristics of Spring-fed Iron-precipitating Microbial Mats 9. Amino Acid Survival Under Ambient Martian Surface UV Lighting Extraction of Organic Molecules from Terrestrial Material: Quantitative Yields from Heat and Water Extractions 10. Laboratory Detection and Analysis of Organic Compounds in Rocks Using HPLC and XRD Methods 11. Thermal Decomposition of Siderite-Pyrite Assemblages: Implications for Sulfide Mineralogy in Martian Meteorite ALH84001 Carbonate Globules 12. Determination of the Three-Dimensional Morphology of ALH84001 and Biogenic MV-1 Magnetite: Comparison of Results from Electron Tomography and Classical Transmission Electron Microscopy 13. On the Possibility of a Crypto-Biotic Crust on Mars Based on Northern and Southern Ringed Polar Dune Spots 14. Comparative Planetology of the Terrestrial Inner Planets: Implications for Astrobiology 15. A Possible Europa Exobiology 16. A Possible Biogeochemical Model for Titan

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1988

Rate of production, dissolution and accumulation of biogenic solids in the ocean

The equatorial current system, by its response to global circulation changes, provides a unique recording mechanism for long range climatic oscillations. A permanent record of the changes in rate of upwelling and organic production is generated in the equatorial deep sea sediments, particularly by such biogenic components which are unaffected by secondary dissolution. In order to determine the rates of accumulation of various sedimentary components, a reliable differential measurement of age of the strata must be obtained. Various approaches to this problem are reviewed, and sources of error discussed. Secondary dissolution of calcium carbonate introduces a substantial and variable difference between the dissolution-modified, and hence a priori unknown, rate of deposition on one hand and the rate of accumulation, derivable from the observed concentration, on the other. The cause and magnitude of these variations are of importance, particularly since some current dating schemes are based on assumed constancy in the rate of accumulation of this and, in some cases, also all other sedimentary components. The concepts used in rate evaluation are discussed with emphasis on the difference between the state of dissolution, an observable property of the sediment, and the rate of dissolution, a parameter that requires deduction of the carbonate fraction dissolved, and of the time differential. As a most likely cause of the enhanced state of dissolution of the interglacial carbonate sediments is proposed the lowered rates of biogenic production and deposition, which cause longer exposure of the carbonate microfossils to corrosion in the bioturbated surface layer of the sediment. Historical perspective is included in the discussion in view of the dedication of the Symposium to Hans Pettersson, the leader of the Swedish Deep Sea Expedition 1947-1948, an undertaking that opened a new era in deep sea research and planetary dynamics.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗
NASA NTRS2000

Mineralogical and Geochemical Analyses of Antarctic Lake Sediments: A Reflectance and Moessbauer Spectroscopy Study with Applications for Remote Sensing on Mars

Lakebottom sediments from the Dry Valleys region of Antarctica have been analyzed here in order to study the influence of water chemistry on the mineralogy and geochemistry of these sediments, as well as to evaluate techniques for remote spectral identification of potential biomarker minerals on Mars. Lakes from the Dry Valleys region of Antarctica have been investigated as possible analogs for extinct lake environments on early Mars. Sediment cores were collected in the present study from perennially ice-covered Lake Hoare in the Taylor Valley. These sediments were taken from a core in an oxic region of the lake and another core in an anoxic zone. Differences between the two cores were observed in the sediment color, Fe(II)/Fe(III) ratio, the presence of pyrite, the abundance of Fe, S and some trace elements, and the C, N and S isotope fractionation patterns. The results of visible-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (0.3-25 microns) Mossbauer spectroscopy (77 and 4 K) and X-ray diffraction are combined to determine the mineralogy and composition of these samples. The sediments are dominated by plagioclase, K-feldspar, quartz and pyroxene. Algal mats grow on the bottom of the lake and organic material has been found throughout the cores. Calcite is abundant in some layers of the aerobic core (shallow region) and pyrite is abundant in some layers of the anaerobic core (deep region). Analysis of the spectroscopic features due to organics and carbonates with respect to the abundance of organic C and carbonate contents was performed in order to select optimal spectral bands for remote identification of these components in planetary regoliths. Carbonate bands near 4 and 6.8 microns (approx.2500 and 1500/cm) were detected for carbonate abundances as low as 0.1 wt.% CO2. Organic features at 3.38, 3.42 and 3.51 microns (2960, 2925 and 2850/cm) were detected for organic C abundances as low as 0.06 wt.% C. The d13C trends show a more complex organic history for the anaerobic sediments than for the aerobic sediments. The biogenic pyrite found in the anaerobic core is associated with lighter d34S values and high organic C levels and could be used as a biomarker mineral for paleolakes on Mars.

Froeschl, Heinz↗
NASA NTRS2001

Beagle 2: The Next Exobiology Mission to Mars

Beagle 2 is a 60 kg probe (with a 30 kg lander) developed in the United Kingdom for inclusion on the European Space Agency's 2003 Mars Express. Beagle 2 will deliver to the Martian surface a payload which consists of a high percentage of science instruments to landed spacecraft mass. Beagle 2 will be launched in June, 2003 with Mars Express on a Soyuz-Fregat rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Beagle 2 will land on Mars on December 26, 2003 in the Isidis Planitia basin (approximately 10 degrees N and 275 degrees W), a large sedimentary basin that overlies the boundary between ancient highlands and northern plains. Isidis Planitia, the third largest basin on Mars, which is possibly filled with sediment deposited at the bottom of long-standing lakes or seas, offers an ideal environment for preserving traces of life. Beagle 2 was developed to search for organic material and other volatiles on and below the surface of Mars in addition to the study of the inorganic chemistry and mineralogy. Beagle 2 will utilize a mechanical mole and grinder to obtain samples from below the surface, under rocks and inside rocks. A pair of stereo cameras will image the landing site along with a microscope for examination of surface and rock samples. Analyses will include both rock and soil samples at various wavelengths, X-ray spectrometer and Mossbauer spectrometer as well as a search for organics and other light element species (e.g. carbonates and water) and measurement of their isotopic compositions. Beagle 2 has as its focus the goal of establishing whether evidence for life existed in the past on Mars at the Isidis Planitia site or at least establishing if the conditions were ever suitable. Carbonates and organic components were first recognized as existing on Mars when they were found in the Martian meteorite Nakhla. Romanek et al showed the carbonates in ALH84001 were formed at low temperatures. McKay et al noted possible evidence of early life on Mars within the ALH84001 meteorite. Thomas-Keprta et al showed the magnetite biomarkers in ALH84001's carbonates are indistinguishable from those formed by magnetotactic bacteria found on Earth. Gibson et al showed there was significant evidence for liquid water and biogenic products present on Mars across a 3.9 billion year period. A mechanical arm (PAW) operates from the lander and is used for science operations along with sample acquisition. Instruments attached to the PAW include: stereo cameras, Mossbauer instrument, X-ray fluorescence instrument, microscope, environmental sensors, rock corer/grinder, a spoon, mirror, brushes, a mole attachment for acquisition of subsurface to depths of 1 to 2 meters and an illumination device. Each camera has 14 filters which have been optimized for mineralogy composition, dust and water vapor detection. The microscope's camera is designed for viewing the size and shape of dust particles, rock surfaces, microfossils, and characteristics of the samples prior to introduction into the gas analysis package (GAP). The camera has a resolution of 4 microns/pixel, features four color capability (red, green, blue and UV (ultraviolet) fluoresence), a depth of focus of 40 micrometers and translation stage of +3 millimeters. The heart of the Beagle 2's life detection package is the gas analysis package (GAP), which consists of a mass spectrometer with collectors at fixed masses for precise isotopic ratio measurements and voltage scanning for spectral analysis. Primary aim of the GAP is to search for the presence of bulk constituents, individual species, and isotopic fractionations for both extinct and extent life along with studying the low-temperature geochemistry of the hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen components on Mars from both the surface and atmosphere. GAP is a magnetic sector mass spectrometer with the range of 1 to 140 amu which can be operated in both the static and dynamic modes. A triple Faraday collector array will be used for C, N and O ratios along with a double Faraday array for H/D. Pulse counting electron multiplier will be utilized for noble gases and selected organics. Anticipated detection limits are at the picomole level for operation in the static mode of operation and high precision isotopic measurements will be made in the dynamic mode. Sample processing and preparation system consists of reaction vessels along with references. Sample ovens capable of being heated are attached to the manifold for sample combustion. Surface, subsurface materials and interior rock specimens will be combusted in pure oxygen gas at various temperature intervals to release organic matter and volatiles. Combustion process will permit detection of all forms and all atoms of carbon present in the samples. A chemical processing system is capable of a variety of conversion reactions. Gases are manipulated either by cryogenic or chemical reactions and passed through the gas handling portion of the vacuum system. There are two modes of operation: quantitative analysis and precise isotopic measurements. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Gibson, Everett K., Jr.↗