In situ identification, pairing, and classification of meteorites from Antarctica through magnetic susceptibility measurements
We report on the effectiveness of using magnetic measurements in the search for meteorites on the Antarctic ice sheet, which is thus far the Earth's most productive terrain. Magnetic susceptibility measurements carried out with a pocket meter (SM30) during the 2003/04 PNRA meteorite collection...
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ftunivarizonaojs:oai:journals.uair.arizona.edu:article/15246 2023-05-15T13:42:28+02:00 In situ identification, pairing, and classification of meteorites from Antarctica through magnetic susceptibility measurements Folco, Luigi Rochette, Pierre Gattacceca, Jrme Perchiazzi, Natale 2006-01-01 application/pdf https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/maps/article/view/15246 eng eng Meteoritics & Planetary Science Archives https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/maps/article/view/15246/15234 https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/maps/article/view/15246 Meteoritics & Planetary Science Archives; Vol 41, No 3 (2006); 343-353 1945-5100 1086-9379 Geochemistry;origin authentication;hot-desert meteorites;Weathering info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Peer-reviewed Article 2006 ftunivarizonaojs 2020-11-14T17:53:00Z We report on the effectiveness of using magnetic measurements in the search for meteorites on the Antarctic ice sheet, which is thus far the Earth's most productive terrain. Magnetic susceptibility measurements carried out with a pocket meter (SM30) during the 2003/04 PNRA meteorite collection expedition to northern Victoria Land (Antarctica) proved to be a rapid, sensitive, non-destructive means for the in situ identification, pairing, and classification of meteorites. In blue ice fields characterized by the presence of moraines and glacial drifts (e.g., Miller Butte, Roberts Butte, and Frontier Mountain), magnetic susceptibility measurements allowed discrimination of meteorites from abundant terrestrial stones that look like meteorites thanks to the relatively high magnetic susceptibility of the former with respect to terrestrial rocks. Comparative measurements helped identify 16 paired fragments found at Johannessen Nunataks, thereby reducing unnecessary duplication of laboratory analyses and statistical bias. Following classifications schemes developed by us in this and previous works, magnetic susceptibility measurements also helped classify stony meteorites directly in the field, thereby providing a means for selecting samples with higher research priority. A magnetic gradiometer capable of detecting perturbations in the Earth's magnetic field induced by the presence of meteorites was an efficient tool for locating meteorites buried in snow along the downwind margin of the Frontier Mountain blue ice field. Based on these results, we believe that magnetic sensors should constitute an additional payload for robotic search for meteorites on the Antarctic ice sheet and, by extension, on the surface of Mars where meteorite accumulations are predicted by theoretical works. Lastly, magnetic susceptibility data was successfully used to cross-check the later petrographic classification of the 123 recovered meteorites, allowing the detection of misclassified or peculiar specimens. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Ice Sheet Victoria Land Journals at the University of Arizona Antarctic Frontier Mountain ENVELOPE(160.333,160.333,-72.983,-72.983) Johannessen ENVELOPE(-65.415,-65.415,-65.427,-65.427) Johannessen Nunataks ENVELOPE(161.183,161.183,-72.867,-72.867) Miller Butte ENVELOPE(160.250,160.250,-72.700,-72.700) Roberts Butte ENVELOPE(160.133,160.133,-72.650,-72.650) The Antarctic Victoria Land |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Journals at the University of Arizona |
op_collection_id |
ftunivarizonaojs |
language |
English |
topic |
Geochemistry;origin authentication;hot-desert meteorites;Weathering |
spellingShingle |
Geochemistry;origin authentication;hot-desert meteorites;Weathering Folco, Luigi Rochette, Pierre Gattacceca, Jrme Perchiazzi, Natale In situ identification, pairing, and classification of meteorites from Antarctica through magnetic susceptibility measurements |
topic_facet |
Geochemistry;origin authentication;hot-desert meteorites;Weathering |
description |
We report on the effectiveness of using magnetic measurements in the search for meteorites on the Antarctic ice sheet, which is thus far the Earth's most productive terrain. Magnetic susceptibility measurements carried out with a pocket meter (SM30) during the 2003/04 PNRA meteorite collection expedition to northern Victoria Land (Antarctica) proved to be a rapid, sensitive, non-destructive means for the in situ identification, pairing, and classification of meteorites. In blue ice fields characterized by the presence of moraines and glacial drifts (e.g., Miller Butte, Roberts Butte, and Frontier Mountain), magnetic susceptibility measurements allowed discrimination of meteorites from abundant terrestrial stones that look like meteorites thanks to the relatively high magnetic susceptibility of the former with respect to terrestrial rocks. Comparative measurements helped identify 16 paired fragments found at Johannessen Nunataks, thereby reducing unnecessary duplication of laboratory analyses and statistical bias. Following classifications schemes developed by us in this and previous works, magnetic susceptibility measurements also helped classify stony meteorites directly in the field, thereby providing a means for selecting samples with higher research priority. A magnetic gradiometer capable of detecting perturbations in the Earth's magnetic field induced by the presence of meteorites was an efficient tool for locating meteorites buried in snow along the downwind margin of the Frontier Mountain blue ice field. Based on these results, we believe that magnetic sensors should constitute an additional payload for robotic search for meteorites on the Antarctic ice sheet and, by extension, on the surface of Mars where meteorite accumulations are predicted by theoretical works. Lastly, magnetic susceptibility data was successfully used to cross-check the later petrographic classification of the 123 recovered meteorites, allowing the detection of misclassified or peculiar specimens. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Folco, Luigi Rochette, Pierre Gattacceca, Jrme Perchiazzi, Natale |
author_facet |
Folco, Luigi Rochette, Pierre Gattacceca, Jrme Perchiazzi, Natale |
author_sort |
Folco, Luigi |
title |
In situ identification, pairing, and classification of meteorites from Antarctica through magnetic susceptibility measurements |
title_short |
In situ identification, pairing, and classification of meteorites from Antarctica through magnetic susceptibility measurements |
title_full |
In situ identification, pairing, and classification of meteorites from Antarctica through magnetic susceptibility measurements |
title_fullStr |
In situ identification, pairing, and classification of meteorites from Antarctica through magnetic susceptibility measurements |
title_full_unstemmed |
In situ identification, pairing, and classification of meteorites from Antarctica through magnetic susceptibility measurements |
title_sort |
in situ identification, pairing, and classification of meteorites from antarctica through magnetic susceptibility measurements |
publisher |
Meteoritics & Planetary Science Archives |
publishDate |
2006 |
url |
https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/maps/article/view/15246 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(160.333,160.333,-72.983,-72.983) ENVELOPE(-65.415,-65.415,-65.427,-65.427) ENVELOPE(161.183,161.183,-72.867,-72.867) ENVELOPE(160.250,160.250,-72.700,-72.700) ENVELOPE(160.133,160.133,-72.650,-72.650) |
geographic |
Antarctic Frontier Mountain Johannessen Johannessen Nunataks Miller Butte Roberts Butte The Antarctic Victoria Land |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Frontier Mountain Johannessen Johannessen Nunataks Miller Butte Roberts Butte The Antarctic Victoria Land |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Ice Sheet Victoria Land |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Ice Sheet Victoria Land |
op_source |
Meteoritics & Planetary Science Archives; Vol 41, No 3 (2006); 343-353 1945-5100 1086-9379 |
op_relation |
https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/maps/article/view/15246/15234 https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/maps/article/view/15246 |
_version_ |
1766168236086263808 |