University of North Dakota UND Scholarly Commons Theses and Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects January 2021 VNIR Spectral Properties Of Five G-Class Asteroids: Implications For Mineralogy And Geologic Evolution Justin Todd Germann Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.und.edu/theses Recommended Citation Germann, Justin Todd, "VNIR Spectral Properties Of Five G-Class Asteroids: Implications For Mineralogy And Geologic Evolution" (2021). Theses and Dissertations. 3927. https://commons.und.edu/theses/3927 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects at UND Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UND Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. VNIR SPECTRAL PROPERTIES OF FIVE G-CLASS ASTEROIDS: IMPLICATIONS FOR MINERALOGY AND GEOLOGIC EVOLUTION by Justin Todd Germann Bachelor of Science, University of North Dakota, 2017 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of North Dakota in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Grand Forks, North Dakota May 2021 ii DocuSign Envelope ID: FACAE050-8099-49F3-B21B-B535F8B6B93E Justin Germann Name: Degree: Master of Science This document, submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree from the University of North Dakota, has been read by the Faculty Advisory Committee under whom the work has been done and is hereby approved. ____________________________________ Dr. Sherry Fieber-Beyer ____________________________________ Dr. Michael Gaffey ____________________________________ Dr. Wayne Barkhouse ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ This document is being submitted by the appointed advisory committee as having met all the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies at the University of North Dakota and is hereby approved. ____________________________________ Chris Nelson Dean of the School of Graduate Studies 5/3/2021____________________________________ Date iii Title VNIR Spectral Properties of Five G-Class Asteroids: Implications for Mineralogy and Geologic Evolution Department Space Studies Degree Master of Science PERMISSION In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a graduate degree from the University of North Dakota, I agree that the library of this University shall make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for extensive copying for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor who supervised my thesis work or, in her absence, by the Chairperson of the department or the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. It is understood that any copying or publication or other use of this thesis or part thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of North Dakota in any scholarly use that may be made with any material in my thesis. Justin Todd Germann May 3rd, 2021 iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my gratitude to my advisory committee - Dr. Sherry Fieber-Beyer, Dr. Mike Gaffey, and Dr. Wayne Barkhouse - for their support and guidance while working on the following research. Dr. Fieber-Beyer particularly deserves credit for suggesting research into the G-class asteroids, and Drs. Fieber-Beyer and Gaffey both deserve acclaim for their willingness to teach, mentor, and provide research opportunities for me throughout my graduate education. I would also like to thank all of my classmates and friends in Space Studies - particularly Elias Holte, Steven Russel, Will Green, Peter Henson, and Caleb Strom - for their friendship and support throughout our time together in Space Studies. Finally, I’d like to thank my longtime partner Kalea Hoff and my parents for putting up with my bewildering excitement and at times complaints over small, rocky bodies within our solar system. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Permission ...................................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................... v List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ ix List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ xii List of Equations .......................................................................................................................... xiii Abstract ........................................................................................................................................ xiv Chapter I: Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 1.2: The Scientific SignifiCance of Asteroids and Meteorites .................................................... 2 1.3: Purpose ................................................................................................................................. 3 1.4: Problem Statement ............................................................................................................... 4 1.5: Thesis Structure .................................................................................................................... 5 Chapter II: Literature Review ......................................................................................................... 6 2.1: A Brief History of Asteroid Investigations .......................................................................... 6 2.2: Asteroid Belt Structure ......................................................................................................... 8 2.3: Observing Asteroids ........................................................................................................... 10 2.3.1: Photometry .................................................................................................................. 11 2.3.2: Spectroscopy ............................................................................................................... 12 2.4: Crystal Field Theory .......................................................................................................... 14 2.5: Space Weathering ............................................................................................................... 16 2.6: Asteroid Taxonomies ......................................................................................................... 18 vi 2.6.1: CMZ and Bowell taxonomies...................................................................................... 19 2.6.2: Tholen Asteroid Taxonomy......................................................................................... 20 2.6.3: Barucci Taxonomy ...................................................................................................... 22 2.6.4: Post ECAS Taxonomy................................................................................................. 22 2.7: G-Class Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 24 2.8: (1) Ceres - Evidence For Hydration ................................................................................... 29 2.9: Investigations into Possible Surface Minerals of C-complex Asteroids ............................ 30 2.10: Phyllosilicates and Hydrated Minerals ............................................................................. 32 2.11: Ammoniated Minerals ...................................................................................................... 38 2.12 Meteorite Classification Review ....................................................................................... 43 2.12.1 Chondrites................................................................................................................... 44 2.12.2 Achondrites................................................................................................................. 49 2.12.3 Meteorite Spectral Features ........................................................................................ 51 Chapter III: Methods ..................................................................................................................... 56 3.1: Targets ................................................................................................................................ 56 3.2: Observations and Data Collection ...................................................................................... 57 3.3: Asteroid Spectrum Reduction ............................................................................................ 58 3.3.1: Starpack Creation ........................................................................................................ 58 3.3.2: Atmospheric Corrections ............................................................................................. 60 3.3.3: Production of Nightly Average Spectrum ................................................................... 62 3.3.4: Spectral Normalization ...............................................................................................