V-type Asteroids as the Origin of Mesosiderites

We present the results of a campaign of hypervelocity impact experiments on natural mesosiderite targets, using representative main asteroid belt impact speeds. The objective is to document further the surface evolution of iron-rich asteroids. In contrast with iron meteorites, we demonstrate the fragile behavior of mesosiderite at impact since experiments result in both cratering and catastrophic disruption. The behavior of metal-rich asteroids at impact is thus highly influenced by the original ratio of metal/silicate. A visible to near-infrared spectral analysis shows that the pyroxene silicate signature of impacted mesosiderites, or their ejecta, is fully preserved. Our results thus rule out a mesosiderite hypothesis for the very nature of M/X-type asteroids including (16) Psyche, despite a small fraction of its surface possibly being covered by mesosiderite-like materials. Finally, we address the question of whether mesosiderites and howardite-eucrite-diogenite (HED) meteorites are genetically linked to (4) Vesta or other differentiated asteroids in the main belt based on their spectral similarity.