Vibrational spectroscopic study of minerals in the Martian meteorite ALH84001

Micro-Raman spectra of carbonates, silica and amorphous plagioclase, and bo th micro-Raman and IR reflectance spectra of phosphates in ALH84001 are rep orted. Data from these vibrational techniques combined with electron microp robe analyses show that (1) the carbonates exhibit complex compositional he terogeneity on a sub-micrometer scale, (2) the phosphates, chlorapatite and merrillite, are largely anhydrous, (3) amorphous silica and plagioclase ex perienced peak shook pressures >32 GPa and >50 GPa, respectively, and (4) v itreous plagioclase was quenched from a shock-induced melt after relaxation of the peak shock pressure. The observed general Raman band broadening of lattice and internal modes of carbonates in ALH84001 indicates complex sub- microscopic compositional heterogeneity and possibly structural disorder. A ny search for biogenic markers in ALH84001 must recognize the complex shock and thermal history of these minerals.