metallicasteroids

Metallicasteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies characterized by a high metal content, dominated by iron and nickel, and are often associated with the M-type segment of asteroid spectra. They are widely believed to be fragments of the metallic cores of differentiated planetesimals that were shattered by collisions early in solar system history.

Observational evidence for metallicasteroids includes high bulk densities, radar reflections consistent with metallic surfaces, and infrared spectra that match iron-nickel alloys. They are relatively rare compared with more common rocky (S-type) and carbon-rich (C-type) asteroids, but several objects exhibit strong metal signatures.

The best-known example is 16 Psyche, a large asteroid that researchers propose may be an exposed planetary core. Other targets have shown metal-rich signatures in spectroscopic surveys, though many also contain silicate material that complicates classification.

Formation and structure: Metallicasteroids likely originate from the cores of differentiated planetesimals that experienced collisional disruption. Metal-rich fragments can survive as compact bodies with density and structure dominated by metallic material.

Significance and potential applications: In science, metallicasteroids provide clues about early solar system differentiation and planetary formation. In the context of space resources, metal-rich bodies are of interest for potential mining of iron, nickel, and other metals, though extraction in space presents substantial challenges.

Exploration: NASA's Psyche mission, selected in 2017, launched in 2023, is designed to rendezvous with 16 Psyche and investigate its composition, geology, and history. Arrival is planned for the late 2020s, with the goal of testing the hypothesis that the body is a core remnant.