Combined synchrotron X-ray and electron microscopy analysis of asteroid Bennu samples: Investigation of aqueous alteration in the parent body

抄録

We performed a combined synchrotron X-ray and electron microscopy analysis on more than 50 asteroid Bennu particles and found mineralogical variations among the particles. The mineralogical differences correspond to differences in degrees of aqueous alteration. We found a particle escaped from significant aqueous alteration and preserves primitive dust accreted to the parent body, in addition to particles showing evidence of weak to intensive aqueous alteration. We will describe the mineralogical evolution of the Bennu’s parent body by the aqueous alteration inferred from three-dimensional mineral distributions.