Non-destructive REE determination by high energy micro-XRF in unique asteriod materials returned by the Hayabusa 2 mission of JAXA.

The materials to be analyzed in this experiment are return samples from the Hayabusa 2 mission of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which were successfully collected from asteroid Ryugu and returned to Earth on the 5th of December, 2020. We will focus on the detection of high-Z rare earth elements (REE), as the most important geochemical signature of the returned unique (pristine) asteroid sample materials is represented by their trace element fingerprint and rare Earth element (REE) pattern. The systematic study of the absolute and relative concentrations of REE and their distribution between coexisting phases are important indicators for early processes of the formation of the first solids, their exchange with the surrounding Solar Nebula as well as hydrothermal processes on the fluid rich parent body.