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Experiments were performed in which meteoritic iron, iron ore and nickel-iron alloy were used to catalyze (in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis) the reaction of deuterium and carbon monoxide in a closed vessel. Normal alkanes and alkenes and their monomethyl substituted isomers and aromatic hydrocarbons were synthesized. Iron oxide and oxidized-reduced Canyon Diablo used as Fischer-Tropsch catalysts were found to produce aromatic hydrocarbons in distributions having many of the features of those observed in carbonaceous chondrites, but only at temperatures and reaction times well above 300 C and 6-8 h.

Iron meteorites graphite-troilite nodules isomeric alkane composition, using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

The aliphatic hydrocarbons in two specimens of limestone (one from Texas and the other from Italy) which were weathered in place as parts of building structures have been investigated using gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The hydrocarbons in 1. (i) the limestone from Texas and 2. (ii) algae cultured from this limestone have similar distributions, i.e. the predominating hydrocarbon in both cases is n-C17, thus indicating that most of the aliphatic hydrocarbons in the limestone may be derived from recent algal growth. The hydrocarbons in the limestone from Italy, in which n-C17 is a maximum but which also include relatively large amounts of pristane, phytane and other aliphatic hydrocarbons, appear to be a mixture of in situ biogenically derived hydrocarbons and extraneously derived fossil hydrocarbons.

Aliphatic hydrocarbons ranging from C13 to C33 have been identified in dust. Isoprenoids and other isomeric alkanes have also been detected in some of the dust samples. The widespread occurrence of dust particles makes them a potential contaminant of extraterrestrial and geochemical specimens being analyzed for organic compounds.

Carbonaceous chondrites isomeric alkanes identification by mass spectrometry and gas chromatography

Abiotic synthesis of meteoritic aliphatic hydrocarbons produced by open flow Fischer- Tropsch processes for hydrogen and Co interactions

Aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbon fractions in terrestrial graphite, discussing classification and analysis by chromatography and mass spectrometry