title: Magnetic properties experiments on the Mars Pathfinder lander: preliminary results.
abstract: Many of the particles currently suspended in the martian atmosphere are magnetic, with an average saturation magnetization of about 4 A. m2/kg (amperes times square meters per kilogram). The particles appear to consist of claylike aggregates stained or cemented with ferric oxide (Fe2O3); at least some of the stain and cement is probably maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3). The presence of the gamma phase would imply that Fe2+ ions leached from the bedrock, passing through a state as free Fe2+ ions dissolved in liquid water. These particles could be a freeze-dried precipitate from ground water poured out on the surface. An alternative is that the magnetic particles are titanomagnetite occurring in palagonite and inherited directly from a basaltic precursor.
authors.affiliation: Oersted Laboratory, Niels Bohr Institute for Astronomy, Physics, and Geophysics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Hviid
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Gunnlaugsson
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Goetz
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Hargraves
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Britt
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Dinesen
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Mogensen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vistisen
mesh_terms: D001272:Atmosphere; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D007501:Iron; D008280:Magnetics; D018535:Mars; D008903:Minerals; D010087:Oxides; D017640:Silicates; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D008903:Minerals; D010087:Oxides; D017640:Silicates; D014867:Water; C000499:ferric oxide; D007501:Iron; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide