The relict magnetism of meteorites

The remanent magnetism recorded in chondritic and achondritic meteorites can potentially constrain the existence and properties of large-scale magnetic fields in the early solar system. Carbonaceous chondrites experienced magnetic fields of the order of one tenth to several gauss during low-temperature metamorphic events on their parent bodies occurring within a few tens of Myr of protosolar collapse. Chondrules have produced somewhat higher paleointensities but these are more uncertain. Paleointensities derived for ordinary and enstatite chondrites are even less reliable. The magnetic remanence recorded in achondrites is better understood and available paleointensity estimates are generally <0.1 gauss. A possible source of the magnetism recorded in carbonaceous chondrites and chondrules is a large-scale magnetic field in the protoplanetary nebula. Intrinsic parent-body fields and fields due to local surface processes such as impacts may have contributed to the magnetization of all meteorite classes. -from Authors