ORGANIC COMPOSITION OF THE ALLAN HILLS CARBONACEOUS CHONDRITE (77306) AS DETERMINED BY PYROLYSIS-GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY AND OTHER METHODS

The amino acid composition and the pyrolyzable organic content of the Antarctic Allan Hills meteorite (ALHA 77306.9 and ALHA 77306.17) was examined. The pyrolysis products are very similar to those of the Murchison meteorite. The identified amino acids are present at quite low levels, they are racemic and are structurally similar to those observed in the Murchison meteorite. This indicates the possible chemical synthesis of these compounds in the meteorite parent body. The Allan Hills meteorite is not detectably contaminated. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.