Abstract
The characteristics of the natural remanent magnetism (NRM) of ordinary chondrites are described and are related to processes of magnetization which the meteorites may have experienced and possible ancient magnetizing fields. The latter include a magnetic field associated with the solar nebula at the time of formation of iron-nickel grains, which carry the NRM in chondrites, and an intrinsic magnetic field arising from internal processes in meteorite parent bodies. The results suggest that chondrules and iron-nickel grains were magnetized in a nebula field and not significantly re-magnetized later, although there are difficulties associated with the occurrence and formation of the ordered iron-nickel mineral, tetrataenite, and with metamorphic heating of chondrites.
SNC meteorites are believed to originate on Mars, and some of them possess a highly stable primary magnetization which appears to have been acquired prior to their ejection from the planet. The evidence is described, together with field intensity estimates and the origin of the remanence as either a thermoremanent or shock remanent magnetization is discussed.
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© 1989 Kluwer Academic Publishers
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Collinson, D.W. (1989). The Magnetism of Ordinary Chondrites and SNC Meteorites: Possible Implications for Ancient Solar System Magnetic Fields. In: Lowes, F.J., Collinson, D.W., Parry, J.H., Runcorn, S.K., Tozer, D.C., Soward, A. (eds) Geomagnetism and Palaeomagnetism. NATO ASI Series, vol 261. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0905-2_22
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0905-2_22
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