A 4.6-billion-year-old meteorite found lying in the imprint of a horseshoe is
likely a remnant of cosmic debris left over from the birth of the solar system
and could answer questions about how life began on Earth.
It was discovered by Loughborough resident Derek Robson, of the East Anglian
Astrophysical Research Organisation(EAARO), in a Gloucestershire field, in
March, after travelling from a distance of at least 110 million miles from
its primordial home between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter in the asteroid
belt.
Scientists at Loughborough University are now analysing the small
charcoal-coloured space rock to determine its structure and composition in a
bid to answer questions about the early solar system and possibly our own
origins.
Along with colleagues from EAARO, researchers are using techniques such as
electron microscopy to survey the surface morphology at the micron and
nanometre scale; vibrational spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, which give
detailed information about chemical structure, phase and polymorphism,
crystallinity and molecular interactions, to determine the structure and
composition.
The material, which resembles loosely held-together concreted dust and
particles, never underwent the violent cosmic collisions that most ancient
space debris experienced as it smashed together to create the planets and
moons of our solar system.
“The internal structure is fragile and loosely bound, porous with fissures
and cracks,” said Shaun Fowler - a specialist in optical and electron
microscopy at the Loughborough Materials Characterisation Centre (LMCC).
“It doesn’t appear to have undergone thermal metamorphism, which means it’s
been sitting out there, past Mars, untouched, since before any of the
planets were created meaning we have the rare opportunity to examine a piece
of our primordial past.
“The bulk of the meteorite is comprised of minerals such as olivine and
phyllosilicates, with other mineral inclusions called chondrules.
“But the composition is different to anything you would find here on Earth
and potentially unlike any other meteorites we’ve found – possibly
containing some previously unknown chemistry or physical structure never
before seen in other recorded meteorite samples.”
The ancient rock is a rare example of a carbonaceous chondrite, a type of
meteorite which often contains organic material. Fewer than 5% of meteorites
which fall to Earth belong to this classification.
Identifying organic compounds would support the idea that early meteorites
carried amino acids – the building blocks of life – to supply the Earth’s
primordial soup where life first began.
“Carbonaceous chondrites contain organic compounds including amino acids,
which are found in all living things,” said Director of Astrochemistry at
EAARO Derek Robson who found the meteorite and who will soon join
Loughborough University as an academic visitor for collaborative research.
“Being able to identify and confirm the presence of such compounds from a
material that existed before the Earth was born would be an important step
towards understanding how life began.”
Professor Sandie Dann, of the Chemistry Department in the School of Science,
first worked with Derek in 1997 and has kept in touch with him regularly
since.
She said: “It’s a scientific fairy-tale. First your friend tracks a
meteorite, then finds it and then gifts a bit of this extra-terrestrial
material to you to analyse.
“At this stage, we have learned a good deal about it, but we’ve barely
scratched the surface.
“There is huge potential to learn about ourselves and our solar system –
it’s an amazing project to be part of.”
Jason Williams, Managing Director of EAARO, added: “One of EAARO's primary
objectives is to open the doors of science and technology to those who may
not get the opportunity.
“Derek and I felt our new find could help us further these objectives by
opening up research opportunities in meteoritical science.
“We carefully chose Loughborough, along with University of Sheffield, a
number of commercial partners, and a handful of overseas specialists to work
with us on this exciting project as we continue to excite and inspire people
young and old by promoting and encourage space research and STEM subjects to
a wider community.”
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