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Extensive water ice within Ceres' aqueously altered regolith: Evidence from nuclear spectroscopy
T H Prettyman1, N Yamashita2, M J Toplis3
1Planetary Science Institute, 1700 East Fort Lowell, Suite 106, Tucson, AZ 85719-2395, USA. prettyman@psi.edu.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|December 17, 2016
Summary
Surface elemental composition of dwarf planet Ceres reveals significant water ice content, indicating past aqueous alteration and potential ice-rock fractionation. This suggests long-term ice survival beneath the surface.
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Astrogeology
- Astrochemistry
Background:
- Dwarf planet Ceres' surface composition provides key insights into its geological history and volatile content.
- Understanding regolith composition is crucial for deciphering aqueous alteration and interior evolution processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the surface elemental composition (hydrogen, iron, potassium) of Ceres.
- To constrain Ceres' regolith ice content and aqueous alteration history.
- To investigate potential ice-rock fractionation and interior evolution.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of nuclear spectroscopy data from NASA's Dawn mission.
- Quantification of elemental concentrations on Ceres' surface.
Main Results:
- Surface materials show evidence of aqueous processing within Ceres' interior.
- Ceres' carbon-bearing regolith has high hydrogen but lower iron concentrations compared to carbonaceous chondrites.
- High hydrogen concentrations at mid-to-high latitudes indicate abundant subsurface water ice.
Conclusions:
- Ceres' surface composition suggests modest ice-rock fractionation occurred.
- Subsurface water ice is widespread and has likely survived for billions of years.
- The findings support theoretical models of ice stability on Ceres.
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