BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Metals\, Magnetism and Meteorites: A brief guide to magnetic field
  generation on small planetary bodies - Dr Claire Nichols\, University of 
 Oxford
DTSTART:20231114T120000Z
DTEND:20231114T130000Z
UID:TALK207790@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:David Wallis
DESCRIPTION:Planetary magnetic fields are generated by vigorous convection
  of an electrically-conductive\, molten metallic core.  Paleomagnetic meas
 urements have revealed that a surprising number of small planetesimals\, w
 ith radii of just a few hundred kilometres\, were able to sustain active m
 agnetic fields in their early histories.  This provides invaluable insight
  into their interior structure\, formation and thermal histories.  In orde
 r to extract these magnetic field histories\, many novel experimental appr
 oaches have been utilized including synchrotron X-ray microscopy and quant
 um diamond microscopy.  In particular\, these methods have allowed paleoma
 gnetic records to be extracted from tetrataenite\, a mineral with an excep
 tionally robust ability to preserve records of magnetic fields that were a
 ctive billions of years ago.  Paleomagnetic records extracted from nanosca
 le tetrataenite structures in pallasite meteorites have demonstrated that 
 the parent body must have had a large core and a thin mantle. Also\, contr
 ary to popular belief\, these results show that pallasites do not represen
 t core-mantle-boundary material. The formation of pallasite meteorites rem
 ains debated with several formation mechanisms currently in contention inc
 luding ferrovolcanism\, impacts and partial differentiation.  By combining
  paleomagnetic data with petrological and geochemical observations\, each 
 of the proposed mechanisms can be systematically ruled in or out.  Determi
 ning the nature and formation of small planetary bodies is key in understa
 nding the processes that eventually resulted in the formation of the plane
 ts in our solar system today.
LOCATION:Department of Earth Sciences\, Tilley Lecture Theatre
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR