A carbonate-rich, hydrated, interplanetary dust particle: possible residue from protostellar clouds

Science. 1986 Mar 28;231(4745):1544-6. doi: 10.1126/science.231.4745.1544.

Abstract

Transmission electron microscopy of a hydrated interplanetary dust particle (IDP) indicates that it contains abundant magnesium-iron carbonates, primarily breunnerite and magnesian siderite. This IDP displays a strong absorption band at 6.8 micrometers in its infrared spectrum, similar to that in certain protostellar spectra. The carbonates probably account for the 6.8-micrometer band in the IDP spectrum, suggesting that carbonate also may occur in interstellar dust and be the source of the controversial 6.8-micrometer feature from the protostellar spectra.