uzakuescУченые записки Казанского университета. Серия Естественные наукиUchenye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta Seriya Estestvennye Nauki2542-064X2500-218XKazan (Volga Region) Federal University10.26907/2542-064X.2025.2.353-366uzakuesc-351Research ArticleСтатьиThe effect of terrestrial weathering on the magnetic properties of meteorites from the Atacama DesertThe effect of terrestrial weathering on the magnetic properties of meteorites from the Atacama Deserthttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1626-4636KuzinaD.KuzinaD.

Dilyara Kuzina - Cand. Sci. (Geology and Mineralogy), Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology, Paleomagnetism.

Kazan

Dilyara Kuzina - Cand. Sci. (Geology and Mineralogy), Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology, Paleomagnetism.

Kazan

di.kuzina@gmail.comhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1639-7140GattaccecaJ.GattaccecaJ.

Jérôme Gattacceca - PhD, Senior Researcher, CEREGE – Centre Européen de Recherche et d’Enseignement des Géosciences de l’Environnement, CNRS.

Aix-en-Provence

Jérôme Gattacceca - PhD, Senior Researcher, CEREGE – Centre Européen de Recherche et d’Enseignement des Géosciences de l’Environnement, CNRS.

Aix-en-Provence

di.kuzina@gmail.comGouillouxH.GouillouxH.

Hugo Gouilloux - Master’s Student, CEREGE – Centre Européen de Recherche et d’Enseignement des Géosciences de l’Environnement, CNRS.

Aix-en-Provence

Hugo Gouilloux - Master’s Student, CEREGE – Centre Européen de Recherche et d’Enseignement des Géosciences de l’Environnement, CNRS.

Aix-en-Provence

hugo.gouilloux@etu.univ-amu.frMertensH.MertensH.

Hugo Mertens - Master’s Student, CEREGE – Centre Européen de Recherche et d’Enseignement des Géosciences de l’Environnement, CNRS.

Aix-en-Provence

Hugo Mertens - Master’s Student, CEREGE – Centre Européen de Recherche et d’Enseignement des Géosciences de l’Environnement, CNRS.

Aix-en-Provence

hugo.mertens@etu.univ-amu.frLacubeR.LacubeR.

Romain Lacube - Master’s Student, CEREGE – Centre Européen de Recherche et d’Enseignement des Géosciences de l’Environnement, CNRS.

Aix-en-Provence

Romain Lacube - Master’s Student, CEREGE – Centre Européen de Recherche et d’Enseignement des Géosciences de l’Environnement, CNRS.

Aix-en-Provence

lacube.romain@etu.univ-amu.frhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7526-9886DemoryF.DemoryF.

Francois Demory - PhD, Research Engineer, CEREGE – Centre Européen de Recherche et d’Enseignement des Géosciences de l’Environnement, CNRSAix-en-Provence

Francois Demory - PhD, Research Engineer, CEREGE – Centre Européen de Recherche et d’Enseignement des Géosciences de l’Environnement, CNRS.

Aix-en-Provence

demory@cerege.frhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7826-3287LorenzC.LorenzC.

Cyril Lorenz - Cand. Sci. (Geology and Mineralogy), Senior Researcher.

Moscow

Cyril Lorenz - Cand. Sci. (Geology and Mineralogy), Senior Researcher.

Moscow

c-lorenz@yandex.ruKazan Federal UniversityРоссияKazan Federal UniversityRussian FederationCentre Européen de Recherche et d’Enseignement des Géosciences de l’Environnement, CNRS, Aix-Marseille University, IRD, INRAEФранцияCentre Européen de Recherche et d’Enseignement des Géosciences de l’Environnement, CNRS, Aix-Marseille University, IRD, INRAEFranceVernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Russian Academy of SciencesРоссияVernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Russian Academy of SciencesRussian Federation2025110620251672353366Copyright © Kuzina D., Gattacceca J., Gouilloux H., Mertens H., Lacube R., Demory F., Lorenz C., 20252025Kuzina D., Gattacceca J., Gouilloux H., Mertens H., Lacube R., Demory F., Lorenz C.Kuzina D., Gattacceca J., Gouilloux H., Mertens H., Lacube R., Demory F., Lorenz C.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://uzakuesc.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/351

Once ordinary chondrites fall on Earth, Fe–Ni minerals and troilite they contain oxidize and transform into iron oxyhydroxides and/or iron oxides, which is expected to modify their magnetic properties. In this study, the effect of long-term terrestrial weathering on the magnetic properties (magnetic susceptibility and hysteresis parameters) of 117 H and L ordinary chondrites from the Atacama Desert (Chile), a region hosting the oldest meteorite collection in the world, was investigated. The measurements revealed a consistent weathering-induced decrease in the saturation magnetization and magnetic susceptibility of both H and L chondrites. The observed trends indicate a faster initial weathering of Fe–Ni minerals compared to troilite, their transformation into mostly paramagnetic iron oxyhydroxides, as well as the formation of magnetite in the later weathering stages.

Once ordinary chondrites fall on Earth, Fe–Ni minerals and troilite they contain oxidize and transform into iron oxyhydroxides and/or iron oxides, which is expected to modify their magnetic properties. In this study, the effect of long-term terrestrial weathering on the magnetic properties (magnetic susceptibility and hysteresis parameters) of 117 H and L ordinary chondrites from the Atacama Desert (Chile), a region hosting the oldest meteorite collection in the world, was investigated. The measurements revealed a consistent weathering-induced decrease in the saturation magnetization and magnetic susceptibility of both H and L chondrites. The observed trends indicate a faster initial weathering of Fe–Ni minerals compared to troilite, their transformation into mostly paramagnetic iron oxyhydroxides, as well as the formation of magnetite in the later weathering stages.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.