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Geologic constraints on the origin of red organic‐rich material on Ceres
Author(s) -
Pieters C. M.,
Nathues A.,
Thangjam G.,
Hoffmann M.,
Platz T.,
de Sanctis M. C.,
Ammannito E.,
Tosi F.,
Zambon F.,
Pasckert J. H.,
Hiesinger H.,
Schröder S. E.,
Jaumann R.,
Matz K.D.,
CastilloRogez J. C.,
Ruesch O.,
M L. A.,
P. O'Brien D.,
Sykes M.,
Raymond C. A.,
Russell C. T.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
meteoritics and planetary science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.09
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1945-5100
pISSN - 1086-9379
DOI - 10.1111/maps.13008
Subject(s) - impact crater , context (archaeology) , geology , framing (construction) , mineralogy , earth science , infrared , astrobiology , geochemistry , paleontology , geography , archaeology , optics , physics
The geologic context of red organic‐rich materials ( ROR ) found across an elongated 200 km region on Ceres is evaluated with spectral information from the multispectral framing camera ( FC ) and the visible and near‐infrared mapping spectrometer ( VIR ) of Dawn. Discrete areas of ROR materials are found to be associated with small fresh craters less than a few hundred meters in diameter. Regions with the highest concentration of discrete ROR areas exhibit a weaker diffuse background of ROR materials. The observed pattern could be consistent with a field of secondary impacts, but no appropriate primary crater has been found. Both endogenic and exogenic sources are being considered for these distinctive organic materials.