INTERFACE BETWEEN CHEMISTRY AND GEOPHYSICS IN ASTEROIDS; THE MINOR PLANET
*Dr. Pruthviraj K. Chaudhary, Dr. Dhiren L. Chaudhari, Dr. Dhrubo Jyoti Sen, Jay M. Patel, Krutik P. Patel, Het P. Patel
ABSTRACT
An asteroid is a minor planet—an object larger than a meteoroid (thus 1 meter or larger) that is neither a planet nor an identified comet—that orbits within the inner Solar System or is co-orbital with Jupiter (Trojan asteroids). Asteroids are rocky, metallic, or icy bodies with no atmosphere, and are broadly classified into C-type (carbonaceous), M-type (metallic), or S-type (siliceous). The size and shape of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from small rubble piles under a kilometre across to Ceres, a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter. A body is classified as a comet, not an asteroid, if it shows a coma (tail) when warmed by solar radiation, although recent observations suggest a continuum between these types of bodies. Asteroids are a source of precious metals, and base metals for in-space use. Some elements exceed terrestrial ore grades: Ir/Ru/Os/Ni/Pt/Rh/Co/O/Pd/Fe/Mg/Rh/W/Au. Total PGM grades in iron meteorites are lower than previous estimates. Mineral processing can separate refractory metal nuggets and other components.
Keywords: Carbonaceous, siliceous, metallic, asteroids, meteor (Ulka), meteorite, meteoroids.
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