Table 1 Summary of particles examined in this study

From: Nitrogen- and oxygen-rich organic material indicative of polymerization in pre-aqueous cryochemistry on Bennu’s parent body

Parent sample ID and lithology

Subsample ID

Particle ID

Organic composition

Petrography

Techniques

OREX-800107-105, mixed

OREX-800107-178

Particle 2a

N- and O-rich organics, C:N:O ratio (3:1:1)

Organic vein sandwiched between phyllosilicates; associated with carbonate inclusions

FTIR, SEM-EDS, STEM, STXM

OREX-800107-105, mixed

OREX-800107-178

Particle 13b

None

Carbonate-dominated grain

FTIR

OREX-800107-105, mixed

OREX-800107-126

Particle 21b

Minor abundance of N-poor organics, very weak aliphatic bands

Common spectral type, dominated by phyllosilicates and carbonates

FTIR

OREX-800055-107, angular

OREX-800055-123

Particle 26a

N-rich organics, highest CH2/CH3 ratio seen for N-rich organics, possible esters or lactones

Organic phase seen in association with phyllosilicates and carbonates

FTIR

OREX-800055-107, angular

OREX-800055-123

Particle 31b

Minor abundance of N-poor organics, weak aliphatic bands

Common spectral type, dominated by phyllosilicates with various carbonates; occurs within the same ~1-cm rock as the N-rich organics found in Particle 33

FTIR

OREX-800055-107, angular

OREX-800055-123

Particle 33a,b

N- and O-rich organics, C:N:O ratio (5:1:1)

Multilayered organic sheet free of associated phyllosilicates; contains carbonate inclusions; transparent in optical

FTIR, nano-FTIR, SEM-EDS, STEM, STXM

OREX-800055-107, angular

OREX-800055-123

Particle 64

N- and O-rich organics

Organic phase seen in association with phyllosilicates

Water solubility test

OREX-800088-102, hummocky

OREX-800088-110

N/A

Minor abundance of N-poor organics, weak aliphatic bands

Common spectral type, dominated by phyllosilicates with various carbonates

FTIR

  1. aFTIR spectrum shown in Fig. 1. bFTIR spectrum shown in Extended Data Fig. 2. N/A, not applicable.
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