Meinschein et al. : Evidence in Meteorites of Former Life 559 



of the 2-Murray extract; of the composited //-heptane, carbon tetrachloride, 

 and benzene eluates and the methanol eluate of the 6-hour extract of l-j\Iurray; 

 the rinses and 6- to 20-hour extracts of 1-Orgueil and 1 -Murray and of the 

 w-heptane eluate of the Orgueil distillate. Additional fractionations and 

 analyses are being run on the 2-Orgueil fractions. All spectra except those 

 of the 2-Murray eluates were obtained on a Consolidated 21-103C mass spec- 



3000 2500 2000 



1500 



WAVENUMBERS IN CM"I 

 1300 1200 1100 1000 



600 



700 



625 



6 9 10 II 



WAVELENGTH IN MICRONS 



Figure 1. Infrared spectra of total Ijenzene-methanol extracts (free sulfur removed) and 

 blanks. Only minor absori)tions appear in the spectra of the blank and Holbrook extract. 

 Infrared absorption bands in the 2-Murray and 1 -Orgueil extracts are similar to the bands 

 otjserved in the benzene extracts of some terrestrial sediments. 



5000 



3000 2500 2000 



WAVENUMBERS IN CM~' 

 1300 1200 MOO 1000 



625 



8 9 10 



WAVELENGTH IN MICRONS 



Figure 2. Infrared spectra of silica gel chromatographic fractions of the 2-Orgueil ben- 

 zene-methanol extracts. That «-he]itane and carbon tetrachloride eluates absorb only at 

 wavelengths that may be attributed to C — C and C — H bonds. The benzene eluate has a 

 small carbonyl absorption near .S.8 fi and absorption bands at 9.7, 12.3, and 13.4 n. These 

 latter bands appear in the infrared spectra of the benzene eluates of ancient sediment extracts, 

 crude oils, and many recent marine sediment extracts. Absorption Imnds in the methanol 

 eluate are typical of the bands found in the spectra of the methanol eluates of many terrestrial 

 sediment extracts. 



trometer which is modified for the analysis of high molecular weight organic 

 compounds. Operating conditions for the Consolidated instrument were: 

 ionization potential, 70 volts (benzene and methanol eluates of 1 -Orgueil were 

 run also at 12 volts); ionization current, 45 yuamp.; magnet current, 1.30 amp.; 

 scan rate, accelerating potential 3300 to 4000 volts in 20 minutes; temperature, 

 ionization chamber, 250° C, and inlet system, 300° C. 



The mass spectra of the 2-Murray eluates were obtained by the Analytical 

 Research Division of Esso Research and Engineering Company with a General 



