Neutron Activation Analysis of a Particle Returned from Asteroid Itokawa.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Neutron Activation Analysis of a Particle Returned from Asteroid Itokawa.
Authors: Ebihara, M., Sekimoto, S., Shirai, N., Hamajima, Y., Yamamoto, M., Kumagai, K., Oura, Y., Ireland, T. R., Kitajima, F., Nagao, K., Nakamura, T., Naraoka, H., Noguchi, T., Okazaki, R., Tsuchiyama, A., Uesugi, M., Yurimoto, H., Zolensky, M. E., Abe, M., Fujimura, A.
Source: Science (pre-March 2025). 8/26/2011, Vol. 333 Issue 6046, p1119-1121. 3p.
Subjects: Asteroids, Nuclear activation analysis, Chondrites, Siderophile elements, Olivine, Plagioclase, Troilite, Itokawa (Asteroid)
Abstract: A single grain (~3 micrograms) returned by the Hayabusa spacecraft was analyzed by neutron activation analysis. This grain is mainly composed of olivine with minor amounts of plagioclase, troilite, and metal. Our results establish that the Itokawa sample has similar chemical characteristics (iron/scandium and nickel/cobalt ratios) to chondrites, confirming that this grain is extraterrestrial in origin and has primitive chemical compositions. Estimated iridium/nickel and iridium/cobalt ratios for metal in the Itokawa samples are about five times lower than Cl carbonaceous chondrite values. A similar depletion of iridium was observed in chondrule metals of ordinary chondrites. These metals must have condensed from the nebular where refractory siderophile elements already condensed and were segregated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Description
Abstract:A single grain (~3 micrograms) returned by the Hayabusa spacecraft was analyzed by neutron activation analysis. This grain is mainly composed of olivine with minor amounts of plagioclase, troilite, and metal. Our results establish that the Itokawa sample has similar chemical characteristics (iron/scandium and nickel/cobalt ratios) to chondrites, confirming that this grain is extraterrestrial in origin and has primitive chemical compositions. Estimated iridium/nickel and iridium/cobalt ratios for metal in the Itokawa samples are about five times lower than Cl carbonaceous chondrite values. A similar depletion of iridium was observed in chondrule metals of ordinary chondrites. These metals must have condensed from the nebular where refractory siderophile elements already condensed and were segregated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00368075
DOI:10.1126/science.1207865