A sink for methane on Mars? The answer is blowing in the wind

• Mars wind erosion is simulated by tumbling quartz (SiO2) and olivine along with CH4.
• Tumbling of SiO2 and olivine along with CH4 leads to consumption of CH4.
• Solid-state 13C/29Si NMR of tumbled SiO2 material shows formation of Si–CH3 bonds.
• The results offer an explanation for the fast disappearance of CH4 on Mars.

Tumbling experiments that mimic the wind erosion of quartz grains in an atmosphere of 13C-enriched methane are reported. The eroded grains are analyzed by 13C and 29Si solid-state NMR techniques after several months of tumbling. The analysis shows that methane has reacted with the eroded surface to form covalent Si–CH3 bonds, which stay intact for temperatures up to at least 250 °C. The NMR findings offer an explanation for the fast disappearance of methane on Mars.