Rj. Hart et al., 'Super magnetic' rocks generated by shock metamorphism from the centre of the Vredefort impact structure, South Africa, S AFR J GEO, 103(2), 2000, pp. 151-155
A magnetic anomaly near the centre of the Vredefort impact structure is att
ributed to remanent magnetism associated with a large meteorite impact at s
imilar to2.0 Ga. The rocks that underlie the anomaly are shocked Archaean g
ranites, which have extremely high remanent magnetism. We propose that the
high remanence derives from elongated, micron-size single-domain magnetite
particles found along shock-induced planar deformation features in quartz.
The magnetite particles appear to have preferred magnetic dipole orientatio
ns, and are interpreted to have been intruded along the planar deformation
features under extreme P-T conditions following the impact event.