In this work, infrared transmission spectra (2-25 mu m range, 5000-400 cm(-1)) of 40 carbonaceous chondrites were analyzed (21 CMs, 5 CVs, 6 CRs, 3 CKs, 3 C2s and 2 Cis). All these meteorite groups are known to have experienced significant aqueous alteration (except the CKs). These IR measurements provide information about the parent body processes experienced, as well as spectra for comparison with observations of Solar System small bodies and possibly with astronomical observations of accretion and debris disks. This study reveals that each meteorite group appears to have specific signatures in the measured IR spectral range. In the case of the Cl and CM groups, results show a variability in the shape of the silicate features that can be related to the evolution of the mineralogy with increasing extent of aqueous alteration extent as described by several authors with other techniques. This evolution of the silicate feature can be seen in the variation in the relative intensities of olivine and phyllosilicate IR features. The variability in the silicate features is correlated with the intensity of an -OH related absorption at 3-p,m, which can be used for the classification of the meteorites according to the level of hydration. Interestingly, in the case of CM chondrites, for which the mineralogy is expected to be dominated by phyllosilicates (serpentine mostly), the shape of the silicate absorption resembles that of an amorphous silicate, with a broad and symmetric 10(-1) mu m band, unlike terrestrial phyllosilicates. The CV and CI( groups have IR spectra that are dominated by olivine absorption. From this feature, it is possible to determine average Mg numbers for the olivine. For the CVs, the olivine Mg numbers appear to decrease in the order Kaba-Grosnaja-Vigarano-Mokoia-Allende. This trend is likely related to the long duration of metamorphism experienced by these samples and the chemical re-equilibration between chondritic components. In the case of CK chondrites, the inferred bulk Mg# of olivine is 67 ( 1), and no variation is observed between the three studied samples, which is likely related to their high degree of equilibration. The 6 CR chondrites show the most variability in their IR spectra, from CM-like spectra in the case of the CR1 Grosvenor Mountains (GRO) 95577 to CV-like spectra for Roberts Massif (RBT) 04133 and Graves Nunataks (GRA) 06100 (one of them being most probably misclassified). Spectra of the remaining CRs show mixtures of various silicate component. Finally, these spectra can be used for comparison with emission spectra of fine-grained asteroid surfaces and dust-rich cometary tails. In the case of Tempel 1, the only group of CC that matches the observed feature around 10-pm region is the CR group. The spectral comparison shows some striking similarities between CRs and Tempel 1 dust. A genetic link between CR2 and comets is not proven, but mineralogical similarities are suggested from the IR spectra. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
