6533b82ffe1ef96bd12947de

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Magnetic Properties Experiments on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit at Gusev Crater

Albert S. YenMorten MadsenP. BertelsenHaraldur P. GunnlaugssonJames F. BellPer NørnbergRudolf RiederJonathan MerrisonS. P. GorevanKjartan M. KinchGöstar KlingelhöferStubbe F. HviidJ. M. KnudsenT. MyrickK. E. HerkenhoffWalter GoetzRalf GellertS. W. Squyres

subject

Geologic SedimentsMineralsMultidisciplinaryExtraterrestrial EnvironmentMagnetic mineralsAtmosphereIronSpinelMarsWaterMaghemiteMineralogyOxidesMars Exploration ProgramAtmosphere of Marsengineering.materialFerrosoferric OxideMagneticschemistry.chemical_compoundImpact craterchemistryFerrimagnetismengineeringGeologyMagnetite

description

The magnetic properties experiments are designed to help identify the magnetic minerals in the dust and rocks on Mars—and to determine whether liquid water was involved in the formation and alteration of these magnetic minerals. Almost all of the dust particles suspended in the martian atmosphere must contain ferrimagnetic minerals (such as maghemite or magnetite) in an amount of ∼2% by weight. The most magnetic fraction of the dust appears darker than the average dust. Magnetite was detected in the first two rocks ground by Spirit.

https://pure.au.dk/portal/da/publications/magnetic-properties-experiments-on-the-mars-exploration-rover-spirit-at-gusev-crater(ace26690-cd83-11db-bee9-02004c4f4f50).html