Abstrakt
Chicxulub impact (66 Ma) event resulted in deposition of spherules, melt glass, diamectite and carbonate ejecta e.g. large polished striated rounded pebbles and cobbles called Albion Formation Pook's Pebbles, named after first site identified in Cayo District, central Belize. Pebbles seem to vary in magnetic intensity due to larger amount of hematite.
This shows as reddening of the Pook's Pebbles' surfaces. Such color change is associated with larger magnetizations.
Due to larger temperatures along the surfaces, the iron hydroxide (goethite)-containing dust reduced to hematite with large magnetization potential. In addition, the magnetic characterization of the Albion Formation Pook's Pebble revealed that the directional and magnitude changes in magnetization of sub-fragments of Pook's Pebbles is indicative of the exposure to electric currents that magnetized/demagnetized portions of the material with a non-homogeneous magnetic field.
Such data may provide insights into the debris cloud environment during the initial phases of debris excavation. Furthermore, the magnetization remanence of the Albion Formation Spheroid Bed, show potential to be used as a signature for impact ejecta deposits during the detection by planetary rovers.
Magnetometer on board of the rover would be capable to detect various types of ejecta and thus enhance the payload for future planetary missions.