Magnetism on the angrite parent body and the early differentiation of planets
Dr. Benjamin Weiss

Abstract: Angrites are among the oldest known pristine rocks and record the earliest stages of planet formation and planetary differentiation. Here we report the first paleomagnetic study of angrites. We find that four angrites record a past magnetic field of order 20 microtesla on the angrite parent body extending from 4564 to at least 4558 million years ago. This is the earliest known record of planetary magnetism. Because the angrite paleomagnetic record extends beyond the expected lifetime of the early circumstellar disk, these paleofields were likely generated internally on the angrite parent body, possibly by an early dynamo in a rapidly formed metallic core.