Ryugu is an asteroid orbiting the Sun between the orbits of Earth and Mars. In 2020, Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft, operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), brought back two tiny particles from this celestial body. Since then, these samples, weighing just 5.4 grams in total, have been the focus of intense research.
One particle was collected from the surface of the asteroid, while the other was extracted from its interior. These fragments serve as incredible archives of the early Solar System and the chemical reactions that shaped it, according to Science Alert.
Recently, researchers discovered an unknown mineral within these time capsules, older than any found on our planet.
What do we know about the discovery?
Scientists analyzed the samples at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) using two advanced X-ray techniques.
“The advantage of these combined methods is that we can measure the chemical composition of both the outer and inner parts of the sample without damaging it. It’s crucial to preserve such rare and unique samples, especially when hundreds of researchers are vying for access to such a small amount of material,” said project leader Paul Northrup, a geologist at Stony Brook University. Northrup and his international team received only 9.3 milligrams of the material for analysis.
BNL reports that the team identified elements and minerals including selenium, manganese, iron, sulfur, phosphorus, silicon, and calcium. In addition to these elements, the team found two forms of phosphorus in the sample: one is the phosphate mineral common in teeth and bones, while the other is a rare phosphide mineral that does not exist on Earth.
Upon further analysis, the team identified the mineral as hydrated phospho-magnesium ammonium (HAMP). This crystalline mineral, not found on Earth, closely resembles terrestrial struvite.
Struvite is tied to biological activity and is a main component of some kidney stones.
“The discovery of HAMP particles in Ryugu samples highlights the potential role of extraterrestrial material in the origins of life on Earth,” said astrobiologist Matthew Pasek.
Every tiny piece of data provided by the Ryugu asteroid brings us closer to a better understanding of the formation and early existence of the Solar System.
The findings were published in the journal Geosciences.
