Magnetic imaging

When you hear someone from Nsork is at the meteor crater, you might think an intergalactic dispute is about to erupt.

But Pilar Mangue comes in peace. The native of Nsork, in the African nation of Equatorial Guinea, is one of five Texas A&M University geophysics students using magnetic imaging equipment to study the 550-foot-wide Odessa meteor crater this week.

"It's different, but it's interesting," Mangue, an incoming senior in College Station said of the work in 100-degree temperatures with pumpjacks all around.

Dax Soule, who just graduated from Texas A&M, is the leader of the group. He said the students are studying the differences in magnetic particles at the site compared to those in the earth's magnetic field.

"This particular crater is a wonderful feature to have right here," he said. "It is one of the few exposed, preserved impact craters of this size in the world."

While the undergraduates are on their first trip to the crater, this is Soule's sixth trip. Previous trips have been the subject of presentations at major conferences. He plans to write about this trip in an article in a scientific journal.

Soule's also performed research everywhere from an icebreaker in southern Chile to a research vessel in the Indian Ocean. But this is a different location.

"It's a lot hotter; it's the only one that has rattlesnakes," he said. "I don't think you can draw a fair comparison between the cliffs at Normandy and a crater out in the middle of an oil patch."

Like Mangue, junior Antonio Pereina is a student from Africa who was got financial assistance in attending Texas A&M from an oil company. The native of Launda, Angola, said matter from space helps scientists better understand how the earth formed.

"It's an impact from another planet," he said. "It's something that comes from the skies."

Senior Philip Platt said he only knew Mangue before this trip, but it's been a great experience.

"I'm already great friends with these two guys in two days," he said of Pereina and junior Alex Trahan of East Bernard. "We work excellent together as a team."

Soule said it doesn't matter to him if the students are from Africa or Alabama, as long as they're good in the field.

"When they're here with me, they're not foreign kids - they're Aggies," he said. "These kids have a great attitude, and they're considerate of each other. They really make sure everybody gets the best out of their day."