Spectral analysis of Urvara–Yalode bright areas on Ceres suggests a new aromatic organic material and Fe-carbonate

Ceres, the largest object in the Main Asteroid Belt, is a key target for astrobiological studies due to its complex surface composition. Spectral analysis from NASA’s Dawn mission revealed the ubiquitous presence of carbonates, phyllosilicates, and ammoniated compounds. This work focuses on the Urvara-Yalode basin region, where recent observations with the Framing Camera identified bright areas with red-sloped spectra, similar to those linked to organic-rich material in the Ernutet crater. Using infrared data from the VIR spectrometer, we detected an intense absorption band at 3.4 μ m , typical of carbonates and organics. To unveil the possible presence of one or both of these components, we employed a spectral modeling approach based on Hapke’s theory, combining several mineralogical endmembers. The results indicate the likely presence of an organic component mixed with Fe-carbonate. This organic material appears more aromatic than the aliphatic organics previously detected on Ceres, along with the components of the average Ceres surface, these findings provide new insights into the geological and chemical evolution of Ceres’ surface.