Magnetic properties experiments on the Mars exploration Rover Spirit at Gusev Crater.
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 approximately 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.
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Center for Planetary Science, Danish Space Research Institute and Niels Bohr Institute for Astronomy, Physics and Geophysics, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. preben@fys.ku.dk
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D001272:Atmosphere; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D007501:Iron; D008280:Magnetics; D018535:Mars; D008903:Minerals; D010087:Oxides; D014867:Water
D008903:Minerals; D010087:Oxides; D014867:Water; D007501:Iron; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide