Magnetic properties of the Esquel Pallasite
Abstract
Pallasites are stony-iron meteorites consisting mainly of olivine crystals suspended in an iron-nickel matrix. One hypothesis holds that pallasites are formed from the intrusion of a liquid iron-nickel core into the solid silicate mantle of a parent body. The magnetic properties of the olivine crystals could help provide insight into the veracity of this explanation. The olivine crystals may contain magnetic inclusions that record useful information regarding magnetic fields present in the parent body. The best recorders of magnetic information are single domain in nature; domain structure of magnetic inclusions can be examined by recording their hysteresis properties. Olivine crystals were separated from a sample of the Esquel pallasite. Crystal fragments were often stained or coated with non-olivine minerals, which required cleaning to remove. An Alternating Gradient Force Magnetometer (AGFM) was used to measure magnetic hysteresis properties, and a Superconducting Quantum Interface Device Cryogenic Rock Magnetometer was used to measure the natural remanent magnetization of the samples. Preliminary data indicate single domain carriers in select olivine crystals that carry records of strong ancient fields. This is a presentation of preliminary results collected during a summer REU at the University of Rochester.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2009
- Bibcode:
- 2009AGUFMGP41B0826E
- Keywords:
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- 1521 GEOMAGNETISM AND PALEOMAGNETISM / Paleointensity;
- 1540 GEOMAGNETISM AND PALEOMAGNETISM / Rock and mineral magnetism