What are asteroids really made of? New analysis brings space mining closer to reality
Scientists are digging into the hidden makeup of carbon-rich asteroids to see whether they could one day fuel space exploration—or even be mined for valuable resources. By analyzing rare meteorites that naturally fall to Earth, researchers have uncovered clues about the chemistry, history, and potential usefulness of these ancient space rocks. While large-scale asteroid mining is still far off, the study highlights specific asteroid types that may be promising targets, especially for water extraction.
Scientists still have much to learn about what small asteroids are made of. These rocky bodies may contain valuable metals, ancient material left over from the formation of the solar system, and chemical clues that reveal the history of their original parent bodies. Because of this, they are increasingly viewed as possible sources of future space resources.
A research team led by the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC) examined samples linked to C-type asteroids, carbon rich objects that are believed to be the original sources of carbonaceous chondrites. Their results, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, strengthen the case that these asteroids could serve as important material reservoirs. The findings also help scientists identify where these meteorites came from and support planning for future space missions and resource extraction technologies.
Rare Meteorites From Ancient Asteroids
Carbonaceous chondrites arrive on Earth naturally, but they account for only about 5% of all meteorite falls. Many are extremely fragile and break apart before they can be recovered, which makes them especially rare. When they are found, it is often in desert environments such as the Sahara or Antarctica, where preservation conditions are favorable.
"The scientific interest in each of these meteorites is that they sample small, undifferentiated asteroids, and provide valuable information on the chemical composition and evolutionary history of the bodies from which they originate," says Josep M. Trigo-Rodríguez, the study's lead author and an astrophysicist at ICE-CSIC, affiliated to the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC).
Measuring the Building Blocks of Asteroids
To carry out the study, the ICE-CSIC team selected and carefully characterized asteroid related samples before sending them for detailed chemical analysis. The measurements were performed using mass spectrometry at the University of Castilla-La Mancha by Professor Jacinto Alonso-Azcárate. This work allowed the researchers to determine the precise chemical makeup of the six most common types of carbonaceous chondrites and assess whether extracting materials from their parent asteroids could one day be practical.
The Asteroids, Comets, and Meteorites research group at ICE-CSIC has spent more than a decade studying the physical and chemical properties of asteroid and comet surfaces. "At ICE-CSIC and IEEC, we specialize in developing experiments to better understand the properties of these asteroids and how the physical processes that occur in space affect their nature and mineralogy," Trigo-Rodríguez explains.
He also notes that ICE-CSIC serves as the international repository for NASA's Antarctic meteorite collection. Over the past ten years, he has helped select and request several of the carbonaceous chondrites used in this study and has designed multiple experiments around them. "The work now being published is the culmination of that team effort," he says.