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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
06:14
Simulating Imaging of Large Scale Radio Arrays on the Lunar Surface
Published on: July 30, 2020
Magnetic studies of lunar samples
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 30, 1970
Summary
Lunar breccia samples exhibit viscous remanent magnetism and high coercivity remanence, likely from impact events. Experiments identified metallic iron and ilmenite in various grain sizes within lunar fines and breccias.
Area of Science:
- Lunar geology
- Paleomagnetism
- Materials science
Background:
- Lunar samples contain remanent magnetism, crucial for understanding lunar history.
- Investigating the magnetic properties of lunar breccias and fines provides insights into their formation and evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the remanent magnetism of a lunar type C breccia sample.
- To identify magnetic minerals and their grain size distribution in lunar materials.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of remanent magnetism, including viscous components and coercivity.
- High-field and low-temperature experiments to identify magnetic minerals.
- Separation of glass beads from lunar fines (type D).
Main Results:
- The lunar type C breccia sample showed a significant viscous component and high coercivity remanence, suggesting acquisition during impact events.
- Ilmenite and metallic iron were identified in breccias.
- Ferrous and metallic iron, in various grain sizes (single and multidomain states), were found in glass beads from lunar fines.
Conclusions:
- Impact processes are a likely source for the observed high coercivity remanence in lunar breccias.
- Metallic iron is a prevalent magnetic component in lunar fines and breccias, existing in diverse grain sizes.
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