Fullerenes from the geological environment

By means of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, both C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes have been found in a carbon-rich Precambrian rock from Russia. The fullerenes were confirmed by Fourier transform mass spectrometry with both laser desorption and thermal desorption/electron-capture methods to verify that the fullerenes were indeed present in the geological sample and were not generated by the laser ionization event. The mass spectra were measured under conditions sufficient to resolve the ¹³C/¹²C isotopic ratios for C₆₀ and C₇₀ and indicate that these ratios correspond to the normal range of isotopic values.