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Asteroid surface materials - Mineralogical characterizations and cosmological implicationsThe theoretical basis for the interpretation of diagnostic spectral features is examined and previous characterizations of asteroid surface materials are considered. A summary is provided of results reported by Gaffey and McCord (1977) who have utilized the most sophisticated interpretive techniques available to interpret the spectral reflectance data of about 65 asteroids for mineralogic and petrologic information. Cosmological implications related to the study of asteroid surface materials are also considered, taking into account source bodies for the meteorites, postaccretionary thermal history, significant factors of asteroid thermal history, and the Apollo and Amor asteroids. It is found that the asteroids exhibit surface materials made up of assemblages of meteoritic minerals. The relative abundance of meteorite types reaching the earth's surface is very different from the population of mineralogic types on asteroid surfaces. The earth-crossing or -approaching asteroids apparently derive from a restricted source region or population which is very strongly depleted in the C2-like assemblages that dominate the belt as a whole.
Document ID
19780057651
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Gaffey, M. J.
(Hawaii Univ. Honolulu, HI, United States)
Mccord, T. B.
(Hawaii, University Honolulu, Hawaii, United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1977
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Meeting Information
Meeting: Lunar Science Conference
Location: Houston, TX
Start Date: March 14, 1977
End Date: March 18, 1977
Accession Number
78A41560
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-22-009-473
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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