Asteroid Spectroscopy

Diagnostic Parameters
The position of the absorption features is a
function of crystal structure.
The intensity of the features is related to the
abundance of the absorbing species (e.g., Fe 2+ )
in the mineral
and in mixtures to the relative abundance of the
different minerals.
A mineral is defined by its structure and its
composition.
The positions and intensities of the absorption
features in a spectrum are uniquely related to
specific minerals.