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Shock demagnetization in an ambient magnetic field at the Dhala impact structure, India.

Pandey AK, Agarwal A, Joshi G, Sangode S, Venkateshwarlu M.

COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT

doi:10.1038/s43247-025-03164-6 

This study investigated the rock magnetic properties of unshocked target rocks, monomict breccia, and impact melt rocks at the Dhala impact structure, Madhya Pradesh. It is examined how shock waves modify rock magnetization by analysing unshocked granitoids and diorites, and shock-affected monomict breccia and impact melt rock of the Paleoproterozoic impact structure. The unshocked rocks contain strong and stable magnetization carried by titanomagnetite. The results show that shock can substantially reduce crustal magnetization and may demagnetize rocks even in the presence of an ambient magnetic field.

Fig: Characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) directions.

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