Fine-regolith production on asteroids controlled by rock porosity

S. Cambioni (), M. Delbo, G. Poggiali, C. Avdellidou, A. J. Ryan, J. D. P. Deshapriya, E. Asphaug, R.-L. Ballouz, M. A. Barucci, C. A. Bennett, W. F. Bottke, J. R. Brucato, K. N. Burke, E. Cloutis, D. N. DellaGiustina, J. P. Emery, B. Rozitis, K. J. Walsh and D. S. Lauretta
Additional contact information
S. Cambioni: University of Arizona
M. Delbo: Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange
G. Poggiali: INAF – Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri
C. Avdellidou: Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange
A. J. Ryan: University of Arizona
J. D. P. Deshapriya: Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Univ. Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité
E. Asphaug: University of Arizona
R.-L. Ballouz: University of Arizona
M. A. Barucci: Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Univ. Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité
C. A. Bennett: University of Arizona
W. F. Bottke: Southwest Research Institute
J. R. Brucato: INAF – Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri
K. N. Burke: University of Arizona
E. Cloutis: University of Winnipeg
D. N. DellaGiustina: University of Arizona
J. P. Emery: Northern Arizona University
B. Rozitis: The Open University
K. J. Walsh: Southwest Research Institute
D. S. Lauretta: University of Arizona

Nature, 2021, vol. 598, issue 7879, 49-52

Abstract: Abstract Spacecraft missions have observed regolith blankets of unconsolidated subcentimetre particles on stony asteroids1–3. Telescopic data have suggested the presence of regolith blankets also on carbonaceous asteroids, including (101955) Bennu4 and (162173) Ryugu5. However, despite observations of processes that are capable of comminuting boulders into unconsolidated materials, such as meteoroid bombardment6,7 and thermal cracking8, Bennu and Ryugu lack extensive areas covered in subcentimetre particles7,9. Here we report an inverse correlation between the local abundance of subcentimetre particles and the porosity of rocks on Bennu. We interpret this finding to mean that accumulation of unconsolidated subcentimetre particles is frustrated where the rocks are highly porous, which appears to be most of the surface10. The highly porous rocks are compressed rather than fragmented by meteoroid impacts, consistent with laboratory experiments11,12, and thermal cracking proceeds more slowly than in denser rocks. We infer that regolith blankets are uncommon on carbonaceous asteroids, which are the most numerous type of asteroid13. By contrast, these terrains should be common on stony asteroids, which have less porous rocks and are the second-most populous group by composition13. The higher porosity of carbonaceous asteroid materials may have aided in their compaction and cementation to form breccias, which dominate the carbonaceous chondrite meteorites14.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03816-5

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