Formation and evolution of carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu

Direct evidence from returned samples

Journal article (2023)

Authors

T. Nakamura Tohoku University
M. Matsumoto Tohoku University
Kana Amano Tohoku University
Y. Enokido Tohoku University
M. E. Zolensky NASA Johnson Space Center
T. Mikouchi University of Tokyo
H. Genda Tokyo Institute of Technology
M. Y. Zolotov School of Earth and Space Exploration
S.J.M. Dr Potin Spaceborne Instrumentation - Aerospace Engineering , Observatoire de Paris
More Authors... External organisation
Research Group
Spaceborne Instrumentation (Aerospace Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2023 T. Nakamura, M. Matsumoto, K. Amano, Y. Enokido, M. E. Zolensky, T. Mikouchi, H. Genda, M. Y. Zolotov, S.J.M. Dr Potin, More Authors
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abn8671
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Published Date

2023

Language

English

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Faculty

Aerospace Engineering

Department

Space Engineering

Research Group

Spaceborne Instrumentation

Abstract

Samples of the carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu were brought to Earth by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. We analyzed 17 Ryugu samples measuring 1 to 8 millimeters. Carbon dioxide-bearing water inclusions are present within a pyrrhotite crystal, indicating that Ryugu's parent asteroid formed in the outer Solar System. The samples contain low abundances of materials that formed at high temperatures, such as chondrules and calcium- and aluminum-rich inclusions. The samples are rich in phyllosilicates and carbonates, which formed through aqueous alteration reactions at low temperature, high pH, and water/rock ratios of <1 (by mass). Less altered fragments contain olivine, pyroxene, amorphous silicates, calcite, and phosphide. Numerical simulations, based on the mineralogical and physical properties of the samples, indicate that Ryugu's parent body formed ~2 million years after the beginning of Solar System formation.

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