title: Search for organic and volatile inorganic compounds in two surface samples from the chryse planitia region of Mars.
abstract: Two surface samples collected from the Chryse Planitia region of Mars were heated to temperatures up to 500 degrees C, and the volatiles that they evolved were analyzed with a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. Only water and carbon dioxide were detected. This implies that organic compounds have not accumulated to the extent that individual components could be detected at levels of a few parts in 10(9) by weight in our samples. Proposed mechanisms for the accumulation and destruction of organic compounds are discussed in the light of this limit.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Biemann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oro
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toulmin
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Orgel
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Nier
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Simmonds
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Flory
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Rushneck
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Biller