Rock Magnetic Characterization of Returned Samples From Asteroid (162173) Ryugu: Implications for Paleomagnetic Interpretation and Paleointensity Estimation

In this study, systematic rock magnetic measurements and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) paleointensity calibration experiments were conducted for the returned samples from C‐type asteroid (162173) Ryugu and two carbonaceous chondrites (Orgueil and Tagish Lake) to evaluate the remanence carriers of the Ryugu sample and its ability as a paleomagnetic recorder. Our magnetic measurements show that Ryugu samples exhibit signatures for framboidal magnetite, coarse‐grained magnetite, and pyrrhotite, and that framboidal magnetite is the dominant remanence carrier of Ryugu samples in the middle‐coercivity range. The SIRM paleointensity constant was obtained for two Ryugu samples, and the median value was 3,318 ± 1,038 μT, which is close to the literature's value based on the average among magnetite, titanomagnetite, pyrrhotite, and FeNi alloys and is widely used for SIRM paleointensity experiments. The paleointensity values estimated using the obtained SIRM paleointensity constant indicate a strong magnetic field of the protoplanetary disk, suggesting that Sun's protoplanetary disk existed at the disk location of Ryugu's parent planetesimal when framboidal magnetite precipitated from the aqueous fluid. Plain Language Summary Knowledge of rock magnetic properties is crucial to interpret a remanence record of sample and to reconstruct a reliable past magnetic field intensity value. Rock magnetic measurements and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) magnetic field intensity calibration experiments were conducted on returned samples from C‐type asteroid (162173) Ryugu and two meteorite samples (Orgueil and Tagish Lake) to evaluate the remanence carriers of the Ryugu sample and its ability as a past magnetic field recorder. Magnetic field intensity values estimated on the basis of newly obtained rock magnetic properties and SIRM magnetic field intensity constant indicate a strong magnetic field of the protoplanetary disk, suggesting that Sun's protoplanetary disk existed at the disk location of Ryugu's parent planetesimal when framboidal magnetite precipitated from the aqueous fluid. Key Points Rock magnetic properties and paleointensity constant are investigated for returned samples from C‐type asteroid (162173) Ryugu Framboidal magnetites dominate stable natural remanence components of Ryugu samples in a middle‐coercivity range Paleointensity values estimated using our paleointensity constant indicate a strong magnetic field of the