Fossil micrometeorite contribution to Hadean Earth in the van Kooten Group
This project aims to understand the origin and journey of (fossil) micrometeorites within the early Solar System and their contribution to a young Earth. Micrometeorites represent the largest extra-terrestrial mass contribution to our planet and contain a wealth of prebiotic molecules. Their key importance is marked by their continuous downpour during the era that was essential to set the stages for the origin of life.
The project is funded by the Villum Young Investigator grant “EXPRICE: Extraterrestrial proxies for icy pebble delivery towards a habitable Earth” awarded to Elishevah van Kooten. The research involves multi-analytical and cross-disciplinary investigations of fossil and modern-day micrometeorites using SEM, (S)TEM, (nano)SIMS, LA-ICPMS, MC-ICPMS techniques to understand the petrology, nanoscale mineralogy and corresponding organic and volatile inventory of these samples, as well as their nucleosynthetic isotope heritage. This approach allows to trace the origin of micrometeorites (i.e., cometary versus asteroidal) and their prebiotic matter, their transport through the early Solar System, and their contribution the young Earth. The project operates in collaboration with the Johansen Group to understand the chemical transformation of micrometeorites during entry of primordial atmospheres.
Villum Young Investigator Grant no. 53024
Group Members
Cyprien Camplong (PhD student) and Flore van Maldeghem (Postdoc).