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PI : Yohei Igami

Title : Investigation of fluid inclusions and organic materials potentially included in carbonate minerals in Itokawa particles

Abstract

The S-type asteroid Itokawa may have once been hydrated and could potentially have delivered water and organic materials to Earth. However, volatile compounds in Itokawa particles have been still poorly investigated because of their low abundance. So far, the properties of the fluid in the parent body of Itokawa have not been well restricted. The search for aqueous product in Itokawa particles is important to constrain the volatile species present in the S-type asteroid and their possible contribution to life on Earth. In this study, we will examine fluid inclusions and organic materials possibly contained in carbonate minerals in Itokawa particles in order to understand the properties and origin of volatiles in the asteroid Itokawa. We also focus on phosphate minerals that could provide a record of fluid activity.

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