Soluble organic matter evolution during aqueous alteration in carbonaceous chondrites
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GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
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PUBLIC SUMMARY
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We analyzed the composition, abundance and distribution of soluble organic matter (SOM) in meteorites.
Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging mapped SOM at ~10 μm resolution.
SOM is distributed in phyllosilicates and concentrated in fine-grained rims of chondrules.
Parent-body source and aqueous alteration jointly shape SOM synthesis and preservation.
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ABSTRACT
Soluble organic matter (SOM) in meteorites has been suggested to play a significant role in the emergence of early life on Earth. However, the mechanisms that govern its evolution remain unclear. Here, we employed an integrated analytical approach encompassing desorption electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (DESI-HRMS) imaging and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) to comprehensively analyze the composition, abundance, and spatial distribution of methanol-extractable SOM in nine meteorites with different alteration histories. The results show that SOM is preferentially associated with phyllosilicates but depleted in carbonate phases. A positive correlation is observed between the abundance of SOM and the degree of aqueous alteration in CM2 chondrites, although highly altered CI1 chondrites deviate from this trend. Additionally, the composition of SOM appears to be modulated by fluid redox conditions and heliocentric distance, as indicated by systematic differences in molecular features among chondrites from different parent bodies. The findings suggest that the evolution of SOM is governed by the coupled influences of the Solar System environment, parent-body processes, and microscale mineral phases, with aqueous alteration and fluid activity serving as the central driving forces. -
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REFERENCES
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Dong M., Yang W., Hao J., et al. (2026). Soluble organic matter evolution during aqueous alteration in carbonaceous chondrites. The Innovation Geoscience 4:100199. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-geo.2026.100199
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Dong M., Yang W., Hao J., et al. (2026). Soluble organic matter evolution during aqueous alteration in carbonaceous chondrites. The Innovation Geoscience 4:100199. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-geo.2026.100199
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Figure 1.
Spatial distribution of SOM in CM chondrites and Tarda (C2-ung)
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Figure 2.
Mineral- and structure-specific differences in SOM within the Murchison (CM2.5) meteorite revealed by DESI-HRMS imaging
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Figure 3.
The DESI-HRMS imaging of molecules related to carbonates in the Murchison meteorite
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Figure 4.
Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) of 2,809 SOM compounds detected by UHPLC-HRMS
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Figure 6.
SOM differences between the Tarda C2-ung and Mukundpura CM2.0 meteorites revealed by UHPLC–HRMS
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Figure 5.
Differential SOM markers across meteorites
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Figure 7.
Multiscale controls on the evolution of SOM in carbonaceous chondrites
