The Ries impact structure (Germany) contains well‐preserved ejecta deposits consisting of melt‐free lithic breccia (Bunte Breccia) overlain by suevite. To test their emplacement conditions, we investigated the magnetic properties and microstructures of 26 polymict breccia clasts and a stratigraphic profile from the clasts into the suevite at the Aumühle quarry. Remanent magnetization directions of the Bunte Breccia clasts fall into two groups: those whose directions mostly lie parallel to the reversed field during impact carried mostly by magnetite, and those whose directions vary widely among each clast carried by titanohematite. Basement clasts containing titanohematite acquired a chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) during the ejection process and then rotated during turbulent deposition. Clasts of sedimentary rocks grew magnetite after turbulent deposition, with CRM directions lying parallel to the paleofield. Suevite holds a thermal remanent magnetization carried by magnetite, except for ∼12 cm from the contact with the Bunte Breccia, where hematite concentrations increase due to hydrothermal alteration. These observations lead us to propose a three‐stage model of (a) turbulent deposition of the melt‐free breccia with clast rotation <580°C, (b) deposition of the overlying suevite, which acted as a semi‐permeable barrier that confined hot (<300°C) oxidizing fluids to the permeable breccia zone, and (c) prolonged hydrothermal activity producing further alteration which ended before the next geomagnetic reversal. Basement outcrops have significantly different magnetic properties than the Bunte Breccia basement clasts with similar lithology. Two basement blocks situated near the inner ring may have been thermally overprinted up to 550°C.
N2 - Plain Language Summary: The 26‐km‐diameter, ∼15‐million‐year‐old Ries meteorite impact structure in southern Germany is characterized by well‐preserved ejecta deposits expelled from the crater within seconds after the impact. These deposits consist of two main layers: melt‐free, lithic breccia (Bunte Breccia), overlain by melt‐bearing breccia (suevite). To understand the formation conditions of the ejecta deposits, we performed paleomagnetic and rock magnetic measurements and microstructural experiments on clasts within Bunte Breccia and on the overlying suevite at the Aumühle quarry. We found that clasts derived from crystalline basement materials experienced high pressures during the impact. These clasts had randomly oriented magnetization directions carried by titanohematite. In contrast, clasts derived from sedimentary rocks experienced only low pressures and had coherent magnetization directions oriented parallel to the reversed field during the impact that are carried by magnetite. Our findings can be interpreted by a three‐stage model that explains the thermal and structural formation of impact ejecta at the Ries impact structure. N2 - Key Points:Randomly oriented paleomagnetic directions in basement clasts in ejecta deposits suggest turbulent emplacement
Bunte Breccia was chemically altered and locally heated by the overlying suevite, resulting in hydrothermal activity up to 300°C
Basement rocks near the inner ring may have experienced temperatures up to 550°C from cratering