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Cosette Gilmour Economic significance of platinum group elements and water in asteroids: Insights from chondritic meteorites by Cosette Gilmour A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences University of Alberta © Cosette Gilmour, 2017 Abstract Asteroids are considered to be rich sources of precious metals, water, and essential volatiles for life. Such a consideration has been derived from the study of meteorites and asteroid reflectance spectra which have both been vital to our understanding of asteroid compositions. The vast amount of valuable resources in asteroids that are in close proximity to Earth (Near-Earth Asteroids; NEAs) has designated such asteroids as prime targets for extra- terrestrial mining. Of the resources that can be extracted from asteroids, the platinum group elements (PGEs) and water are two of the most sought-after materials. The PGEs are highly valuable given their rarity on Earth, while having an available water source in space can help facilitate future space exploration (i.e., rocket fuel, radiation shielding, drinking water, etc.). Before mining of these resources can commence, asteroid miners must develop a detailed understanding of how the different compositions of asteroids can affect the distribution of such resources. Since it is an expensive endeavor to visit asteroids for such an assessment, meteorite studies take precedence in obtaining the necessary information for selecting an asteroid target to mine. The premise of this master’s thesis is to provide insight into the PGE and water resources that can be mined from asteroids through the study of chondritic meteorites. In the first study of this thesis, PGE concentrations have been determined in situ in ordinary chondrite metal via laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA- ICP-MS). This is the first study to provide a detailed account of in situ PGE concentrations in the metal phases among a suite of ordinary chondrites. In situ results reveal that PGE concentrations in ordinary chondrite metal are similar among the different ordinary chondrite groups (H, L, and LL). This discovery is a significant contribution to the asteroid mining industry regarding which ordinary chondrite parent body is most ideal to mine considering that previous ii studies have claimed that PGE concentrations vary among the three ordinary chondrite groups. The findings from this PGE study are also pertinent to understanding the formation of metal in ordinary chondrites; the minimal variability of PGEs suggest that metal was formed as nebular condensates. The second part of this thesis addresses the effects aqueous alteration has on the abundance of water in carbonaceous material. For this investigation, the unique Tagish Lake carbonaceous chondrite was selected for analysis given that variable aqueous alteration degrees have been reported for three pristine specimens (TL5b < TL11h < and TL11i; Herd et al., 2011; Blinova et al., 2014). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared transmission spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to quantify the extent of aqueous alteration in the Tagish Lake specimens based on how much water they contained and their phyllosilicate/olivine ratio. The findings from this study are congruent with the previously reported alteration sequence (Herd et al., 2011; Blinova et al., 2014), allowing for the addition of two new Tagish Lake specimens (TL4 and TL10a) to be incorporated into the sequence. Reflectance spectra of Tagish Lake were also acquired to re-visit the Tagish Lake parent body connection. This Tagish Lake investigation is relevant to the material processing of asteroid mining given that the TGA method records the temperatures at which minerals break down and release water. Furthermore, investigating the meteorite-parent body connection is pertinent for selecting suitable asteroid targets. The findings of this thesis provide valuable insight into the type of asteroids that are suitable for mining PGEs and water. On this basis, I propose that H chondrite parent bodies are ideal for the extraction of PGEs, while CI and CM carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies are best for water resources. iii Preface This thesis is an original work by Cosette Gilmour. No part of this thesis has been previously published. iv To Mom, Dad, and Sadie Yard by yard, life is hard. Inch by inch takes too damn long. v Acknowledgements I would like to extend my utmost thank you to my supervisor, Chris Herd. I am very fortunate that Chris was open to exploring my interest in asteroid mining and helping me turn it into a thesis. His guidance and patience during this process is greatly appreciated. Thank you for all the wonderful opportunities you have provided me with that have helped me grow as a researcher. There are very many wonderful people from around the world who I have had the pleasure of getting to know and work with throughout my master’s degree. Without these people, this thesis would not have been possible. From the UAlberta Earth and Atmospheric Sciences department I would like to thank: Andy DuFrane (LA-ICP-MS), Guangcheng Chen (solution ICP-MS), Andrew Locock (EPMA and Rietveld refinement), Nathan Gerein (SEM), Diane Caird (XRD), and Martin Von Dollen (sample prep), as well as Benoit Rivard and Robert Creaser for their insight and feedback on my thesis. Thank you also to: Derek MacKenzie (UAlberta Renewable Resources) for granting me use of his TGA instrument and Nduka Ikpo for gathering the TGA measurements; Ed Cloutis, Paul Mann, Matt Cuddy, and Dan Applin (University of Winnipeg Planetary Spectrophotometer Facility) for collecting the Tagish Lake reflectance spectra, providing powdered mineral samples for TGA, and answering my spectroscopy-related questions; Matt Izawa (Okayama University) for answering my Tagish Lake carbonate questions; Conel Alexander (Carnegie Institution of Washington) for providing a sample of Murchison IOM for TGA; Andy Rivkin (Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab) for helping me understanding asteroid magnitudes; and Pierre Beck (Institut de Planétologie et d’Astrophysique de Grenoble) for collecting the Tagish Lake transmission spectra. I would like to express gratitude towards the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History for the loan of Forest Vale, Leedey, Olivenza, and St. Séverin for use in my PGE study. I would also like to thank my wonderful friends at the U of A who have cheered me on and provided unconditional love and support: Nick Castle, Danielle Simkus, Hector Martinez De La Torre, Ebberly MacLagan, Sasiri Bandara, and Katherine Bramble. And last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank my parents. They have been my biggest support during this entire process and I am so thankful for their help in making my dreams come true. vi This research was supported by: the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Discovery Grant 261740 to C. Herd; the NSERC CGS-M scholarship; the Canadian Space Agency and Western University ASTRO/CPSX Graduate Student Travel Award for travel to University of Winnipeg; the Meteoritical Society Travel Award to attend the 78th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society; and the UAlberta FGSR and GSA travel awards to attend the 2016 Vatican Observatory Summer School. vii Table of Contents Chapter 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 The Chondrites ............................................................................................................... 5 1.1.1 Ordinary Chondrites ................................................................................................ 5 1.1.2 Enstatite Chondrites ................................................................................................ 6 1.1.3 Carbonaceous Chondrites ....................................................................................... 7 1.2 Alteration Mechanisms .................................................................................................. 8 1.2.1 Parent Body Processes ............................................................................................ 8 1.2.2 Weathering and Shock ............................................................................................ 9 Chapter 2. In Situ Analysis of Platinum Group Elements in Equilibrated Ordinary Chondrite Kamacite and Taenite ......................................................................................... 12 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 12 2.2 Samples and Methodology .......................................................................................... 14 2.2.1 Samples ................................................................................................................. 14 2.2.2 Methodology ......................................................................................................... 15 2.3 Results .......................................................................................................................... 18 2.3.1 Kamacite and Taenite LA-ICP-MS .......................................................................... 18 2.3.2 Bruderheim Bulk Metal ICP-MS ............................................................................ 26 2.3.3. Comparison to Bulk Metal Studies ......................................................................
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