A spectroscopic method for identifying terrestrial biocarbonates and application to Mars

A. Blanco (1) , V. Orofino (1) , M. d'Elia (1) , S. Fonti (1) , A. Mastandrea (2) , A. Guido (1) , F. Russo (1)

1 Department of Physics [Lecce]
2 Department of Earth Sciences [Rende]

► We present a spectroscopic method to discriminate biotic from abiotic carbonates. ► Infrared spectral modifications induced by thermal processing are investigated. ► We analyse carbonate samples with no evidences of biomineralization. ► Our method is a powerful tool for the search of life on Mars.

Mots clés: Exobiology; Mars; Spectroscopy

Domaines: Planète et Univers [physics]

A. Blanco, V. Orofino, M. d'Elia, S. Fonti, A. Mastandrea, et al.. A spectroscopic method for identifying terrestrial biocarbonates and application to Mars. Icarus, 2011, ⟨10.1016/j.icarus.2011.03.027⟩. ⟨hal-00756912⟩