[meteorite-list] NASA Rover Finds Meteorite on Surface of Mars

From: Matson, Robert <ROBERT.D.MATSON_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue Jan 18 19:35:30 2005
Message-ID: <AF564D2B9D91D411B9FE00508BF1C86904EE631F_at_US-Torrance.mail.saic.com>

Hi All,

Regarding the probable (?) meteorite on Mars, I would think there
would be some other test(s) that could be performed to confirm the
object is a nickel/iron meteorite -- aside from depending on the
IR spectrometer. Don't suppose they thought to bring a little
hand magnet along. ;-) Actually, assuming it is indeed an iron
meteorite, a strong magnet aboard could be hazardous -- might
get stuck there!

Since they weren't willing to risk damaging/destroying the
rock abrasion tool, did they have any other instruments aboard
that could have been used in a clever way (perhaps in combination
with each other) to confirm the object is metallic? Electrical
conductivity, for instance? --Rob
Received on Tue 18 Jan 2005 07:30:34 PM PST