**Author details**

data may indicate that large, complex molecules were present. A variety of methylated, oxygen-, sulfur-, or nitrogen-bearing aromatic organics were detected in GCMS and/or EGA data. The presence of methylated single and double ring aromatics (included benzene, toluene, trimethyl- and tetramethyl-benzene, naphthalene, and methylnaphthalene) suggests that these organics might derive from a

*The preliminary astonishing results of the TMAH thermochemolysis on the Martian soil drilled at Mary Anning. Separation was performed using a gas-chromatographic column (GC2) able to separated molecules with more than 15 Carbon atom. The red continuous line shows the ramp of temperature (adapted from A.*

Examples of the organics detected in GCMS only include pentamethyl-benzene, benzoic acid methyl ester, dimethyl-, trimethyl-, and tetrame-thyl-benzenamine,

Pentamethylbenzene may be part of a multi-methylated benzene suite. The benzoic acid methyl ester reflects the reaction of TMAH methylating benzoic acid of indeterminate source. The multi-methylated benzenamine suite is also of indeterminate source. A non biological source of these organics on the surface of Mars could be the impact of meteoritic material. Several similar organics were indeed identified applying the TMAH thermochemolysis benchtop experiment to the Murchison meteorite, including toluene, trimethylbenzene, methylnaphthalene, 2-butylthiophene, and benzothiophene. Amines and amides are not prevalent in pyrolyzed Murchison material and benzenamines are also not generated during TMAH thermochemolysis of Murchison, so the origin of these amines remains at least

The discovery of organic molecules on Mars is a necessary but not sufficient condition for the demonstration of some present or past form of martian bacterial life. Comets and the carbonaceous chondrites are indeed copious sources of organic material. But the positive results of the 'famous' Viking LR experiment are intriguing, even because it is important taking in account that Viking LR was performed at low temperature, a condition where possible perchlorates do not

macromolecular source that was cleaved and methylated by TMAH

dihydronaphthalene, 2-butyl-thio-phene, and benzothiophene.

thermochemolysis (**Figure 48**).

*Williams, fall 2020 AGU meeting).*

*Solar System Planets and Exoplanets*

problematic.

**166**

**Figure 48.**

**5. Conclusions**

show any oxidant effects.

Cesare Guaita GAT/Milano Planetarium, Tradate, Italy

\*Address all correspondence to: c.guaita@libero.it

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