Figure 1: Output from crush fast scan-mass spectrometry analyses of Martian meteorites.
Output shown from during CH4 (a) and H2 (b) release. Output is over 80 cycles (∼20–25 s) at m/z=15 and m/z=2, representing ionized CH3+ and H2+ during sample crushing. The ionized volatiles produce an instantaneous current in the detector proportional to their amount. The signals from Martian meteorites are shown above quartz blanks, in units of 10−10 amps above background. Hydrogen generates more current than an equal volume of methane because of a difference in sensitivity factor. Doublet peaks may represent gas release from successively crushed inclusions. Peaks are displaced laterally for clarity only. The meteorite methane peak signals are 2 to 3 orders of magnitude higher than the highest signal from the blank.
