Space weathering signatures in sulfide and silicate minerals from asteroid Itokawa
Abstract Transmission electron microscopy analyses of the polymineralic regolith particle RC-MD01-0025 show microstructural and microchemical characteristics indicative of space weathering on the surface of asteroid Itokawa. The depletion of sulfur and nickel was identified in space weathered rims o...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Earth, Planets and Space |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-022-01683-6 |
| _version_ | 1811320841602859008 |
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| author | Laura C. Chaves Michelle S. Thompson |
| author_facet | Laura C. Chaves Michelle S. Thompson |
| author_sort | Laura C. Chaves |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Transmission electron microscopy analyses of the polymineralic regolith particle RC-MD01-0025 show microstructural and microchemical characteristics indicative of space weathering on the surface of asteroid Itokawa. The depletion of sulfur and nickel was identified in space weathered rims on troilite and pentlandite minerals. This corresponds to the first report of nickel depletion in samples returned from asteroid Itokawa by the Hayabusa mission. Microstructurally, the sulfide minerals present crystalline rims and the olivine presents both crystalline and amorphous zones in the rim. These results suggest that sulfides might be more resistant to amorphization caused by solar wind irradiation. The space weathering features identified in the regolith particle analyzed here are likely formed via solar wind irradiation. Additionally, the differences in the space weathering features in olivine, pentlandite, and troilite suggest that silicates and sulfides respond differently to the same space weathering conditions in interplanetary space. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T13:07:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b75924a1b7d44e43a340fd5edd7ebb0b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1880-5981 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T13:07:43Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Earth, Planets and Space |
| spelling | doaj.art-b75924a1b7d44e43a340fd5edd7ebb0b2022-12-22T02:45:44ZengSpringerOpenEarth, Planets and Space1880-59812022-08-0174111410.1186/s40623-022-01683-6Space weathering signatures in sulfide and silicate minerals from asteroid ItokawaLaura C. Chaves0Michelle S. Thompson1Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary SciencesDepartment of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary SciencesAbstract Transmission electron microscopy analyses of the polymineralic regolith particle RC-MD01-0025 show microstructural and microchemical characteristics indicative of space weathering on the surface of asteroid Itokawa. The depletion of sulfur and nickel was identified in space weathered rims on troilite and pentlandite minerals. This corresponds to the first report of nickel depletion in samples returned from asteroid Itokawa by the Hayabusa mission. Microstructurally, the sulfide minerals present crystalline rims and the olivine presents both crystalline and amorphous zones in the rim. These results suggest that sulfides might be more resistant to amorphization caused by solar wind irradiation. The space weathering features identified in the regolith particle analyzed here are likely formed via solar wind irradiation. Additionally, the differences in the space weathering features in olivine, pentlandite, and troilite suggest that silicates and sulfides respond differently to the same space weathering conditions in interplanetary space. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-022-01683-6HayabusaItokawaSpace weatheringSulfidesTransmission electron microscopyEnergy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy |
| spellingShingle | Laura C. Chaves Michelle S. Thompson Space weathering signatures in sulfide and silicate minerals from asteroid Itokawa Earth, Planets and Space Hayabusa Itokawa Space weathering Sulfides Transmission electron microscopy Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy |
| title | Space weathering signatures in sulfide and silicate minerals from asteroid Itokawa |
| title_full | Space weathering signatures in sulfide and silicate minerals from asteroid Itokawa |
| title_fullStr | Space weathering signatures in sulfide and silicate minerals from asteroid Itokawa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Space weathering signatures in sulfide and silicate minerals from asteroid Itokawa |
| title_short | Space weathering signatures in sulfide and silicate minerals from asteroid Itokawa |
| title_sort | space weathering signatures in sulfide and silicate minerals from asteroid itokawa |
| topic | Hayabusa Itokawa Space weathering Sulfides Transmission electron microscopy Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-022-01683-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lauracchaves spaceweatheringsignaturesinsulfideandsilicatemineralsfromasteroiditokawa AT michellesthompson spaceweatheringsignaturesinsulfideandsilicatemineralsfromasteroiditokawa |