From: jmccaule1@attbi.com   
      
   "rnesto"  wrote in message   
   news:3ffde78d.47559093@news.libero.it...   
   > I think it is a good hypothesis.   
   > On the Earth hs to have a lot of oil in very deep soil,   
   > non-biological, it's almost sure.   
      
   Paraffins would probably have poor flow characteristics at Martian surface   
   temperatures, although if they were monofilms (one molecule deep) they might   
   have odd properties.  That weird "active soil chemistry" that the Viking   
   landers encountered might be an indication.   
      
   > So, it's very possibile that there is heavy oil on Mars.   
      
   If Gold and his sort are right, it probably exists only "at depth."  You   
   need big-time tectonics to bring this stuff (if it's there at all) anywhere   
   near the surface.   
      
   Biology on Earth would have important interactions in transforming "deep   
   oil" as it rises, so whatever might be at or near the Martian surface may   
   not resemble terrestrial petroleum.   
      
   > ... but, please, don't tell it to Mr. Bush!   
      
   Martian petroleum might be a valuable chemical feedstock for human industry   
   on Mars, but it probably would not be an important fuel -- what would you   
   use for an oxidizer?  And the shipping costs to get it back to Earth would   
   be, to say the least, prohibitive.   
      
      
   Jim McCauley   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)