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Science 9 October 1992:
Vol. 258. no. 5080, pp. 266 - 269
DOI: 10.1126/science.11538058
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Articles

Science, Vol 258, Issue 5080, 266-269
Copyright © 1992 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Compositional trends in rock-forming elements of comet Halley dust

MN Fomenkova, JF Kerridge, K Marti, and L-A McFadden

Space Research Institute, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.

The VEGA 1 and 2 spacecraft flew by comet P/Halley in 1986 carrying, among other instruments, two mass spectrometers to measure the elemental composition of dust particles emitted from the comet. Most particles seem to be a mixture of silicates of variable magnesium-iron composition and organic matter. Comprehensive study of data and consideration of the mass of dust particles reveal cometary grains of "unusual" composition: magnesium-rich and iron-rich particles. Magnesium-rich particles are most likely magnesium carbonates, which could not have formed under conditions of equilibrium condensation but rather require formation by aqueous alteration. The composition of the iron-rich particles can also be related to secondary processes in the comet.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Spitzer Spectral Observations of the Deep Impact Ejecta.
C. M. Lisse, J. VanCleve, A. C. Adams, M. F. A'Hearn, Y. R. Fernandez, T. L. Farnham, L. Armus, C. J. Grillmair, J. Ingalls, M. J. S. Belton, et al. (2006)
Science 313, 635-640
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