Mineralogical interpretation of reflectance spectra of Eros from NEAR near-infrared spectrometer low phase flyby

48Citations
Citations of this article
8Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

High signal-to-noise near-infrared spectrometer (NIS) spectra acquired during the low phase flyby of the near-Earth asteroid rendezvous (NEAR) mission to 433 Eros are analyzed to determine mineral chemistry and proportions of mafic silicates across the asteroid's surface at 2.68 × 5.50 km spatial resolution. Spectral band parameters are derived, and compared with those of laboratory samples of known mineral composition, grain size distribution and terrestrial, meteoritic and lunar pyroxene spectral properties. The NIS derived band parameters are consistent with ordinary chondrite meteorites. We invoke the presence of a clinopyroxene component in the spectra, which is consistent with ordinary chondrite mineralogy and/or some degree of partial melting of ordinary chondritic material. Spectra measured across the surface of Eros can reveal small but real spectral variations. Most relative spectra are uniform to within 1-2%. Some areas suggest compositional variations of a few percent. Spectral slope variations of a few percent are seen indicating a non-uniform distribution of materials affecting the slope parameter but with no resolved absorption bands. We find no correlation of slope with viewing geometry or compositional variation. The band parameter values do not consistently indicate a specific ordinary chondrite class but Eros is definitely undifferentiated with possible compositional variations of no more than 1-2%.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

McFadden, L. A., Wellnitz, D. D., Schnaubelt, M., Gaffey, M. J., Bell, J. F., Izenberg, N., … Chapman, C. R. (2001). Mineralogical interpretation of reflectance spectra of Eros from NEAR near-infrared spectrometer low phase flyby. Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 36(12), 1711–1726. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1945-5100.2001.tb01858.x

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free