596 Annals New York Academy of Sciences 



The abundance of the organized elements. The number of the organized 

 elements (per milligram) in the Orgueil, Alais, Ivuna, and Tonk meteorites has 

 been reported previously (Nagy et al., 1962). The numbers were arrived at 

 by counting all types of organized elements or such fragments thereof, which 

 appeared to be larger than 50 per cent of 1 particle. The type 1 organized 

 elements of Claus and Nagy (1961) are the most abundant; they comprise 

 approximately 80 to 90 per cent of all microstructures. This type has also the 

 simplest morphology. Consequently, certain investigators were unable to 

 distinguish this type of organized elements from mineral particles or were of 

 the opinion that the morphological criteria are not sufficient to distinguish 

 them from mineral particles. If one chooses to exclude the type 1 organized 

 element one will arrive at a count that is substantially lower than that given 

 by Claus and Nagy (1961). It should be noted, however, that some biologists, 

 on critical examination, were inclined to include this type 1 particle among 

 the organized elements (Papp, 1963; Cholnoky, 1963; Skuja, 1962; Palik, 

 1963). Also, as Urey (1962o) pointed out, one only needs to have some bio- 

 genic and indigenous microstructures in a meteorite to ascertain the existence 

 of extraterrestrial life. The total count of organized elements, including type 

 1 (1300 to 1700 per mg.) shows good agreement with counts of microplanktons 

 in fossil marine populations (1200 per mg.), as reported by Kolbe (1952) and 

 with the counts of stainable organic microstructures in the Mokoia meteorite 

 (1000 to 1700 per mg.) described by Briggs and Kitto (1962). 



Solubility in acids. The effect of acids and organic solvents on the organized 

 elements has been reported previously (Nagy et al., 1962). It is necessary, 

 however, to comment again on this subject because Fitch and Anders (1963) 

 claimed to have dissolved 97 per cent of an Orgueil meteorite sample by heating 

 it for 17 hours at 60° C. in HF and for 18 hours in 6 N HCl at 25° C. The 

 remaining residue was reported to be an aggregation of "finely granular, black 

 to brown material virtually devoid of any structure." Milder treatments in 

 concentrated HF (Urey, 1962o; Staplin, 1962; and Nagy et al., 1962) and 

 6 N HCl resulted in a residue which contained several transparent and acid 

 resistant pellicles. Organized elements, including type 1, retained their 

 characteristic morphologies upon exposure to 6 A^ HCl at room temperature 

 for varying periods of time. The type 1 organized elements were not de- 

 stroyed when boiled in concentrated HF for 15 minutes. The statement 

 made by Fitch and Anders ". . . since they disappear after treatment with HF, 

 we believe they are most likely grains of silicate minerals although they are 

 classified as organized elements by Nagy and coworkers" seems to be in error. 

 In spite of the rather severe treatment they used, Fitch and Anders were still 

 able to find some transparent and highly organized structures of undoubtedly 

 biogenic nature. 



Problems of contamination. Several claims were made in the literature to 

 the effect that the organized elements are terrestrial contaminants (Fitch and 

 Anders, 1963; Deflandre, 1962; Gregory, 1962; and Pearson, 1962). Contami- 

 nation is, of course, a serious problem and it cannot be fully excluded at the 

 present time. However, it should be borne in mind that no trained micro- 

 biologist or micropaleontologist who has actually worked with an Orgueil sam- 



