Mineralogy and Surface Composition of Asteroids

Vishnu Reddy, Tasha L. Dunn, Cristina A. Thomas, Nicholas A. Moskovitz, Thomas H. Burbine

(Submitted on 17 Feb 2015)

Methods to constrain the surface mineralogy of asteroids have seen considerable development during the last decade with advancement in laboratory spectral calibrations and validation of our interpretive methodologies by spacecraft rendezvous missions. This has enabled the accurate identification of several meteorite parent bodies in the main asteroid belt and helped constrain the mineral chemistries and abundances in ordinary chondrites and basaltic achondrites. With better quantification of spectral effects due to temperature, phase angle, and grain size, systematic discrepancies due to non-compositional factors can now be virtually eliminated for mafic silicate-bearing asteroids. Interpretation of spectrally featureless asteroids remains a challenge. This paper presents a review of all mineralogical interpretive tools currently in use and outlines procedures for their application.

Comments: Chapter to appear in the Space Science Series Book: Asteroids IV, 51 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables

Subjects: Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP)

Cite as: arXiv:1502.05008 [astro-ph.EP] (or arXiv:1502.05008v1 [astro-ph.EP] for this version)

Submission history

From: Vishnu Reddy 

[v1] Tue, 17 Feb 2015 19:15:14 GMT (2390kb)

http://arxiv.org/abs/1502.05008

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