The composition of asteroid 2 Pallas and its relation to primitive meteorites

High resolution spectroscopic observations of asteroid 2 Pallas from 1.7-3.5 μm are reported. These data are combined with previous measurements from 0.4-1.7 μm to interpret Pallas' surface mineralogy. Evidence is found for low-Fe ²⁺ hydrated silicates, opaque components, and low-Fe ²⁺ anhydrous silicates. This assemblage is very similar to carbonaceous chondrite matrix material such as is found in type CI and CM meteorites, but it has been subjected to substantial aqueous alteration and there is a major extraneous anhydrous silicate component. This composition is compared to that of asteroid 1 Ceres. Although there are substantial differences in their broad band spectral reflectances, it appears that both asteroids are genetically related to known carbonaceous chondrites.