Selected metal resources on H chondrite parent bodies

Abstract

Abstract The aim of the article is to estimate Fe, Ni and Co resources on H-chondrite parent bodies based on the bulk chemical composition, mineral composition and chemical composition of ore minerals – kamacite and taenite. The authors based their calculations on the results of their own research (ICP MS, EPMA, microscopic observation in reflected light) verified by results reported in the literature, which are usually more representative as they come from studies of larger numbers of meteorites. The authors’ calculations have demonstrated that about 16\xa0\u200bwt% of rock with H chondrite composition is metallic iron (Fe0), which is potentially attractive in deposit terms. It is found mainly in FeNi alloy grains – kamacite (over 90%) and taenite (c. 8%). Nickel, which constitutes about 1.7\xa0\u200bwt% of H chondrites and their parent bodies, makes c. 53% of kamacite grains, and about 47% of taenite grains. Moreover, about 98% of Co is contained in kamacite, and only 2% – in taenite. Therefore, the parent asteroids of H chondrites can be treated wholly as polymetallic deposits, with pure metal (Fe, Ni and Co) content in the form of mineable FeNi ore minerals (kamacite and taenite) of about 18\xa0\u200bwt% of the whole asteroid. Asteroid (6) Hebe, like other H-chondrite parent bodies, e.g. asteroids (3) Juno, (25) Phocaea, (16\xa0\u200b960) 1998 QS52, (99\xa0\u200b901) 1989 VA, (138\xa0\u200b524) 2000 OJ8, (143\xa0\u200b624) 2003 HM16, or (159\xa0\u200b857) 2004 LJ, may become the first potential extraterrestrial sites of metal ore (Fe, Ni and Co) mining. The first mined ore will be probably regolith accumulated on the surfaces of these bodies. This may be of prime significance for further human exploration of the Solar System space.