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The Tagish Lake meteorite: a possible sample from a D-type asteroid.
T Hiroi1, M E Zolensky, C M Pieters
1Department of Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA. takahiro_hiroi@brown.edu
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 25, 2001
Summary
The Tagish Lake meteorite, a primitive carbonaceous chondrite, provides the first meteorite analog for D-type asteroids. Its composition supports the theory that D-type asteroids are primitive and originated in the outer solar system.
Area of Science:
- Cosmic bodies
- Meteoritics
- Planetary Science
Background:
- D-type asteroids are abundant in the outer solar system and are considered primitive.
- Previously, no meteorite in collections was found to be analogous to D-type asteroids.
- These asteroids are inferred to be more primitive than any known meteorite.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the Tagish Lake meteorite's properties.
- To determine if the Tagish Lake meteorite can serve as a meteorite analog for D-type asteroids.
- To understand the primitive nature and thermal history of D-type asteroids.
Main Methods:
- Spectral analysis of the Tagish Lake meteorite.
- Chemical and mineralogical analysis of the meteorite's composition.
- Comparison of meteorite spectra and composition with D-type asteroid data.
Main Results:
- The Tagish Lake meteorite exhibits a reflectance spectrum similar to D-type asteroids.
- It is a carbon-rich (4-5 wt%), aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrite.
- The meteorite contains high concentrations of presolar grains and carbonate minerals.
Conclusions:
- The Tagish Lake meteorite is the first known meteorite analog for D-type asteroids.
- Its composition supports the hypothesis that D-type asteroids are primitive.
- The meteorite's characteristics suggest D-type asteroids did not undergo extensive heating.
