Similarities in element content between comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko coma dust and selected meteorite samples

Oliver J. Stenzel (1) , Martin Hilchenbach (1) , Sihane Merouane (1) , John Paquette (1) , Kurt Varmuza (2) , Cecile Engrand (3) , Franz Brandstätter (4) , Christian Koeberl (4) , Ludovic Ferrière (4) , Peter Filzmoser (2) , Sandra Siljeström (5)

1 MPS - Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
2 Institute of Statistics and Mathematical Methods in Economics
3 CSNSM - Centre de Sciences Nucléaires et de Sciences de la Matière
4 NHM - Natural History Museum [Vienna]
5 RISE Research Institutes of Sweden

We have analysed the element composition and the context of particles collected within the coma of 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko with Rosetta’s COmetary Secondary Ion Mass Analyzer (COSIMA). A comparison has been made between on board cometary samples and four meteorite samples measured in the laboratory with the COSIMA reference model. Focusing on the rock-forming elements, we have found similarities with chondrite meteorites for some ion count ratios. The composition of 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko particles measured by COSIMA shows an enrichment in volatile elements compared to that of the investigated Renazzo (CR2) carbonaceous meteorite sample.

Keywords: comets: individual: 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko; meteorites; meteors; meteoroids

Domains: Astrophysics [astro-ph]; Geochemistry

Oliver J. Stenzel, Martin Hilchenbach, Sihane Merouane, John Paquette, Kurt Varmuza, et al.. Similarities in element content between comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko coma dust and selected meteorite samples. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2017, 469 (Suppl 2), pp.S492-S505. ⟨10.1093/mnras/stx1908⟩. ⟨insu-02985846⟩