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The presence of water (in liquid form) within the gullies of the Newton Crater from Mars (near
the equator), oil-like hydrocarbons on the surface, gas hydrates in the deeper zones on Mars, and
a list of publications on the geochemistry and astrobiology of carbonaceous chondrites have
indicated that these petroleum hydrocarbons are closely related to the complex biological species
similar to our terrestrial environment. Recent evidence of the possible presence of bacterial
globule associated with carbonate minerals in the geological history of Mars may have indicated
the link between possible bacterial growth and generation of petroleum hydrocarbons on Mars.
Recent evidence of the possible presence of bacterially derived source rocks (organic rich black
carbonaceous rocks) and heat flow distribution within Eberswalde and Holden areas of Mars
during the earlier Martian geological time (possibly within the first 2 Ga) may have been
originated from both biogeneic and thermogenic oil and gas hydrates. The thermal evolution of
this biological geopolymer (source rock) could be observed in our earlier findings within the
carbonaceous chondrites which show three distinct thermal events. Based on the current
knowledge gained from carbonaceous chondrites, deltas, and hydrocarbons present within Mars,
the methane on Mars may have been derived from the following sources: (1) deeper gas
hydrates; (b) from the cracking of oil to gas within deeper oil or gas bearing reservoirs from a
higher reservoir temperature; and (c) the high temperature conversion of current bacterial bodies
within the upper surface of Mars.
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