Nebular mixing constrained by the Stardust samples

Journal Article · Mon Mar 22 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Meteoritics and Planetary Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1945-5100.2009.tb01198.x· OSTI ID:985195

OGLIORE, R C; WESTPHAL, A J; GAINSFORTH, Z; BUTTERWORTH, A L; FAKRA, S C; Marcus, Matthew A

Using X-ray microprobe analysis of samples from comet Wild 2 returned by the Stardust mission, we determine that the crystalline Fe-bearing silicate fraction in this Jupiter-family comet is greater than 0.5. Assuming this mixture is a composite of crystalline inner solar system material and amorphous cold molecular cloud material, we deduce that more than half of Wild 2 has been processed in the inner solar system. Several models exist that explain the presence of crystalline materials in comets. We explore some of these models in light of our results.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Advanced Light Source Division
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 985195
• Report Number(s): LBNL-3623E; ISSN 1945-5100; TRN: US201016%%1828
• Journal Information: Meteoritics and Planetary Science, Vol. 44, Issue 10; ISSN 1086-9379
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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CLOUDS
COMETS
MIXTURES
SILICATES
SOLAR SYSTEM