Low-temperature magnetic properties of iron-bearing sulfides and their contribution to magnetism of cometary bodies

Abstract

In this study we present a review of low-temperature magnetic properties of alabandite (Fe, Mn)S, daubreelite FeCr 2S 4, pyrrhotite Fe 1− x S and troilite FeS updated with new experimental data. The results indicate that besides FeNi alloys mainly daubreelite with its Curie temperature T C ∼ 150 K and strong induced and remanent magnetizations may be a significant magnetic mineral in cold environments and may complement that of FeNi or even dominate magnetic properties of sulfide rich bodies at temperatures below T C . Comets are known to contain iron-bearing sulfides within dusty fraction and their surfaces are subject to temperature variations in the range of 100–200 K down to the depth of several meters while the cometary interior is thermally stable at several tens of Kelvin which is within the temperature range where alabandite, daubreelite or troilite are “magnetic”. Thus not only FeNi alloys, but also sulfides have to be considered in the interpretation of magnetic data from cometary objects such as will be delivered by Rosetta mission. Modeling indicates that magnetic interactions between cometary nucleus containing iron-bearing sulfides and interplanetary magnetic field would be difficult, but not impossible, to detect from orbit. Rosetta’s Philae lander present on the surface would provide more reliable signal.