Mars currently possesses no magnetic field of internal origin, but strong surface magnetizations have been inferred from high amplitude magnetic anomalies (much stronger than those on Earth) over much of the southern hemisphere. Since the discovery of these strong magnetic anomalies, several ideas for the origin of the strong remanent magnetization have been advanced but no concensus has been reached. Shergotty-Nakhla-Chassigny (SNC) meteorites provide the only available samples of Martian material. The stable permanent magnetization of SNC meteorites has been traditionally attributed to magnetite (Fe₃O₄) or pyrrhotite (Fe₇S₈). On the basis of rock magnetic, microscopic, and electron microprobe analyses on rock chips and mineral separates, we suggest that a new material (Fe-Cr-Ti spinel) is responsible for the stable paleomagnetic record of Martian meteorite SaU 008. It is possible that SaU 008 acquired a primary remanence of thermal origin from the Martian crustal field. However, this proposition requires further testing because the effect of shock events on Fe-Cr-Ti spinel is unknown.



SEM image of the thin section of SaU 008 showing abundant Olivine (OL), Pyroxene (PX), and Maskelynite (MK). Four opaque minerals are Cr-Fe spinel (CFS), Fe-Cr-Ti spinel (FCTS), ilmenite (IM), and Fe-sulfide (FS).

Recent and ongoing research projects:

1. A paleointensity record from the ocean crust
2. Mapping sea surface magnetic anomalies
3. Characterizing the time-averaged magnetic field
4. Long term variations in geomagnetic intensity
5. Magnetization of meteorites and lunar samples
6. Applications of magnetic data to fabric development in cumulates