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The distribution of compositional classes in the asteroid belt: A cosmochemical fingerprint?Studies of the physical properties of the asteroids show a nonrandom distribution of types across the belt for asteroid classes E, S, M, F, C, P, and D. The general trend is for asteroids in the inner belt to have higher albedos and stronger mafic silicate absorption features than those asteroids located further out in the belt. One interpretation of this trend is that the asteroids, which occupy the region between the silicate rich terrestrial planets and the volatile rich outer planets, have preserved in their heliocentric compositional distribution a cosmochemical fingerprint of the thermodynamic conditions present in the solar nebula at the time of their formation. This hypothesis predicts that the differences in the spectral properties among the low albedo classes (C, P, F, P, and D) are due to temperature controlled processes which formed carbonaceous opaques. If this is true then the exact composition of the opaque components could, in principle, be used to determine the thermodynamic conditions between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter during the formation of the asteroids.
Document ID
19850025543
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Gradie, J.
(Hawaii Univ. Honolulu, HI, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1985
Publication Information
Publication: Lunar and Planetary Inst. Terrest. Planets: Comp. Planetology
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
85N33856
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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