Magnetism is a common feature of iron meteorites. Magnetism in iron meteorites may not be strong but it contains information about the origin of these objects.
The magnets used by meteorite hunters to separate meteorites from surrounding rocks are not recommended. Hand magnets are able to erase the magnetic past of a metal meteoriteThis is a significant scientific record.
Magnetic meteorites are formed in the presence a magnetic fields. The iron grains inside the meteorite are aligned with the magnetic field outside, giving it its own magnetism.
The Martian meteorite Black Beauty, for example, was magnetized by the magnetic field created by young people. Mars.
Some meteorites have a magnetic property, but they shouldn’t be magnetic if they didn’t form in a strong field. Iron meteorites can be classified by their chemical composition. For example, the ratio of iron to nickel.
IVA meteorites are fragments of smaller asteroids. IVA meteorites are magnetic, even though small asteroids have weak magnetic fields. There is a new studyShowing how this is possible
The rubble pile method is a way to form small asteroids. Over time, small chunks of iron rich rock aggregate to form an asteroids. asteroid.
Since small asteroids do not experience liquid iron, they cannot have magnetic fields. Or can they?
Over time, asteroids also collide with each other. These collisions are what break up the fragments into meteorites that we find on Earth. However, the authors demonstrate that impacts can create magnetic dynamos within an asteroids.
A chain of events may occur if a collisional body is large enough to melt the material on the surface of the asteroid but not enough to shatter it.
The core of a cold rubble is heated when it is surrounded by a layer of molten metal. It is the lighter elements that migrate from the core to the surface. This causes the layers to churn and create convection.
Convection of iron creates a magnetic force that imprints on the asteroid. The collisions create magnetic fragments that reach Earth.
The magnetism in IVA meteorites is not due to the formation of the parent asteroid but from collisions which have agitated the core.
This information can help researchers better understand how planetary drift, for example, could have caused more asteroid collisions.
There is yet another reason why you should not use hand magnets to search for meteorites. Finding a meteorite can erase its history.
This article was first published by Universe Today. Read the Original Article.
