Asteroid Itokawa A Source of Ordinary Chondrites and A Laboratory for Surface Processes

Research Article| February 01, 2014 Asteroid Itokawa A Source of Ordinary Chondrites and A Laboratory for Surface Processes Akira Tsuchiyama Akira Tsuchiyama *Division of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, JapanE-mail: atsuchi@kueps.kyoto-u.ac.jp Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Akira Tsuchiyama *Division of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, JapanE-mail: atsuchi@kueps.kyoto-u.ac.jp Publisher: Mineralogical Society of America First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1811-5217 Print ISSN: 1811-5209 © 2014 by the Mineralogical Society of America Elements (2014) 10 (1): 45–50. https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.10.1.45 Article history First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Akira Tsuchiyama; Asteroid Itokawa A Source of Ordinary Chondrites and A Laboratory for Surface Processes. Elements 2014;; 10 (1): 45–50. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.10.1.45 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyElements Search Advanced Search Abstract The Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa returned samples from the surface of an asteroid (near-Earth S-type asteroid 25143 Itokawa) for the first time in human history. This article describes the results of the initial analysis of the mineralogy, micropetrology, and elemental and isotopic compositions of regolith particles from Itokawa measuring 30–180 μm in diameter. The results show a direct link between ordinary chondrites and S-type asteroids. The regolith particles provide evidence of space-weathering rims and grain abrasion, and the information obtained has elucidated various processes on the airless surface of Itokawa, such as the impact of small objects, grain motion, and irradiation by solar wind. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.