Magnetic anisotropy of HED and Martian meteorites and implications for the crust of Vesta and Mars

We investigate the petrofabric of crustal rocks from Mars and Vesta through the measurement of the anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility (AMS) of achondrites. Previous data are integrated with new measurements to obtain a dataset that provide macroscopic information about the magnetic fabric of 41 meteorites of the howardite–eucrite–diogenite clan (HED, falls only) and 16 Martian meteorites. The interpretation takes into account the large contribution of paramagnetism to the magnetic susceptibility of these meteorites. We use a model that allows the computation of the anisotropy degree of the population of ferromagnetic grains and provides a quantitative proxy for the degree of shape preferential orientation of these grains in HED and Martian meteorites. The results also provide quantitative information about the shape of the magnetic fabric (prolate, oblate).In HED achondrites, the ductile FeNi grains are sensitive strain recorders and our magnetic fabric data provide the first quantitative insights to the strain history of the crustal rocks of Vesta. Most HED achondrites are breccias but display a strong and spatially coherent magnetic anisotropy, indicating that intense deformation of FeNi grains took place after brecciation. The average fabric of eucrites, howardites is oblate (i.e. the texture is foliated) whereas the fabric of diogenites is more neutral. The howardite results suggest the existence of an isotropic fraction of ferromagnetic minerals that can be ascribed to the presence of carbonaceous chondrite clasts that have preserved their original magnetic fabric. In this hypothesis, howardites have an intensity of petrofabric very similar to eucrites and diogenites. Thermal metamorphism (itself possibly impact-related) plus lithostatic compaction occurring after brecciation appears as the best candidate to explain the observed petrofabric in eucrites and diogenites, whereas compaction by hypervelocity impacts may be reponsible for the fabric of howardites.Martian meteorites may still possess their primary magmatic fabric. Among Martian meteorites, basaltic shergottites and nakhlites display an oblate fabric (foliated texture) with only limited variations among each group. Olivine–phyric shergottites have a neutral fabric that points to a different petrogenesis. Nakhlites have weaker fabric intensity than shergottites. The fabric intensity is comparable to what is classically observed in terrestrial volcanic and plutonic rocks.     

The relationship between the magnetic and strain fabrics of some haematite-bearing Welsh slates

The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and the natural remanent magnetization of haematite-bearing Welsh Cambrian slates, showing a gradation in degree of deformation, have been related to the known strain of these rocks. An approximate quantitative relationship between strain and magnetic susceptibility anisotropy has been deduced, which would allow rapid strain estimation in this region by magnetic analysis.     

秦祁接合带造山缝合带磁组构特征及其构造意义

结合构造及磁化率各向异性研究详细解剖了秦祁接合带唐藏—关子镇—武山和新阳—元龙造山缝合带的应变及岩组特征.41个采点168个构造岩样品的平均磁化率全部较低,磁化率椭球形态分析表明其以平面和压扁应变为主,磁化率各向异性度普遍较高,属强变形岩石组构类型,结合野外观察认为其与变形强度明显正相关.此外,磁化率各向异性参数T、P′可能受岩石类型一定程度的影响.磁化率椭球主轴方位与变形密切相关,提供了丰富的岩组信息.两构造带具有类似的岩组特征,磁面理大致分为呈共轭形态的两组,暗示高应变剪切带在平面上可能以网格状形态出露;高倾伏角磁面理与占优势的低倾伏角、近水平磁线理表明了构造带明显的走滑特征,部分高角度磁线理可能与构造带的挤压和（或）转换挤压相关;磁组方法不能简单用于判别复杂强变形带的运动指向,糜棱面理的复杂变化及K_min与构造带夹角过高使其判别结果意义不明,而野外及显微构造观察都表明了构造带的右行走滑特征.上述结果表明,沿缝合带大规模的右行转换挤压形成了秦祁接合带反“S”型的平面构造形态,暗示在南北板块拼合过程中,西秦岭诸中、小块体一定程度的向西挤逸.     

Anisotropy of magnetic remanence: A brief review of mineralogical sources,physical origins,and geological applications,and comparison with susceptibility anisotropy

The magnetic fabric of rocks and sediments is most commonly characterized in terms of the anisotropy of low-field magnetic susceptibility (AMS). However, alternative methods based on remanent magnetization (measured in the absence of a magnetic field) rather than induced magnetization (measured in the applied field) have distinct advantages for certain geological applications. This is particularly true for; (1) adjunct studies in paleomagnetism, in order to assess the fidelity with which a natural remanence records the paleofield orientation; (2) studies of weakly magnetic or weakly deformed rocks, for which susceptibility anisotropy is very difficult to measure precisely; and (3) quantitative applications such as strain estimation. The fundamental differences between susceptibility and remanence (and their respective anisotropies) are due to several factors: (1) susceptibility arises from all of the minerals present in a sample, whereas remanence is carried exclusively by a relatively small number of ferromagnetic minerals; (2) ferromagnetic minerals are generally more anisotropic than para- and diamagnetic minerals; (3) for ferromagnetic minerals, remanence is inevitably more anisotropic than susceptibility; and (4) a number of common minerals, including single-domain magnetites, possess an inverse anisotropy of susceptibility, i.e., they tend to have minimum susceptibility parallel to the long axis of an individual particle; remanence is immune to this phenomenon. As a consequence of all these factors, remanence anisotropy may generally provide a better quantitative estimate of the actual distribution of particle orientations in a rock sample.Contribution number 9102 of the Institute for Rock Magnetism, University of Minnesota.     

Magnetic fabric and strain in Miocene volcanics in the southern margin of the Bükk Mountains, Hungary

The magnetic anisotropy of two Miocene volcanic horizons south of the Bükk Mountains, northeast Hungary, was investigated (28 geographically distributed sites, over 400 samples). The horizons contain rocks from ignimbrites to porous tuffs. Microscopic and rock magnetic investigations showed that the main carrier of anisotropy is multidomain maghemite with varying composition. The complex magnetic fabric was separated into deformational and flow fabric in the upper horizon. This was carried out by monitoring the distribution of minimum susceptibility directions supposed to be elongated towards intermediates as a response to compressional strain. Jelínek's tensor statistics were used in the computations. Filtering out the effects of volcanic flow and compaction, north-south striking horizontal compressional strain was determined for the upper horizon in the geographic system. Owing to the lack of elongated distribution of minima, the characteristic intermediate susceptibility directions were taken as markers of strain directions in the lower horizon (WNW-ESE and NNE-SSW in the geographic system). The strain directions showed correlation with compressional stress orientations observed by microtectonics, thus a homogeneous stress-strain field was supposed within the area investigated. The tectonic component of the strain can be determined by taking the respective paleomagnetic declination rotations as the rotational components of the deformation.     

Changes in magnetic and fractal properties of fractured granites near the Nojima Fault, Japan

Abstract Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) has been used to infer finite strain fabrics in plastically deformed rocks, but there are few studies of magnetic properties in fractured fault rocks. Changes in magnetic and fractal properties of fractured granites from the Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University (DPRI) 500 m drilling core towards the Nojima Fault and of the well-foliated fault gouge are described. Fractal analysis of fractured granites shows that the fractal dimension ( D ) increases linearly toward the gouge zone of the fault. In weakly fractured granites ( D = 1.05–1.24), it was found that the degree of AMS correlates positively with the fractal dimension, suggesting a fracture-related magnetic fabric due to fracturing. In strongly fractured granites ( D = 1.25–1.50), weaker, nearly isotropic AMS is found, suggesting erasure by the fragmentation of the magnetic minerals. Within the fault gouge zone, an isotropic AMS fabric was found, as well as twofold increases in magnetic intensity and susceptibility. These changes reflect the production of new magnetite grains, subsequently confirmed by hysteresis studies, which suggests that fault gouge might be regarded as the source of the regional geomagnetic field contrast along active faults. Thus, AMS is clearly a potentially useful tool for inferring the fracturing texture of magnetic minerals in fractured rocks and detecting active faults from the high susceptibility contrast of fault gouge.     

The development of magnetic susceptibility anisotropy through crystallographic preferred orientation in a calcite rock

High-field torque-meter measurements of diamagnetic susceptibility anisotropy of a suite of samples of Carrara marble, axially shortened by amounts up to 50% at (1.5–3.0) · 10⁸ Pa confining pressure and at 20–500°C (mainly 400°C), have been compared with optical measurements of preferred crystallographic orientation. A revised value for the susceptibility anisotropy of calcite has been obtained from studies of single crystals, and it has been shown to be almost independent of the state of intracrystalline plastic strain. From the measured anisotropy of calcite, quantitative comparison of optical and magnetic fabric measurements is possible. It is found that these measurements agree and the implications of the observed progressive development of fabric intensity with strain are discussed.     

Microstructure and magnetic fabric in the Shuanghe pluton: A synkinematic granite in Eastern Dabie Mountains,China

Strain analyses for the Shuanghe pluton show that the main strain planes suffered distinct deformation. The main strain value (XZ) is up to 1.59-2.18, and the value of Flinn index (K) ranges from 0.11 to 0.82. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) measurements reveal that the orientations of the magnetic foliation and lineation gently dip SE, consistent with the macroscopic foliation of the pluton. The value of anisotropy degree (P) ranges from 1.109 to 1.639, and the shape parameter (7) from 0.079 to 0.534. These studies prove that the pluton was deformed under strong compression. Quartz c-axis textures, defined by monoclinic or triclinic asymmetry, usually developed the high maxima paralleling the b-axis, which is defined by the developed in the high-ultrahigh pressure rocks (UHP) which were captured in the pluton or country rocks. It is concluded that the Shuanghe pluton emplaced under regional compression slightly after the formation of UHP, and it is characterized by synkinematic granitic deformation.     

On the magnetic susceptibility anisotropy of deep-sea sediment

Susceptibility anisotropies in the form of vertically prolate ellipsoids have been reported in many deep-sea sediment cores. The results of the present investigation suggest that these anisotropies may not describe the original magnetic fabric of deep-sea sediment, but are more likely due to either a measurement effect or to deformation of the sediment during coring. Anisotropy measurements made on a spinner magnetometer sometimes were found to be greatly affected by the shape of the sample. This apparent “sample-shape effect” was not observed on a low-field torque meter. The anisotropy of samples taken near the base or the top of some piston cores often reflects sediment disturbance during the coring operation. Most samples of deep-sea sediment examined had weak anisotropies that could be interpreted as due to normal depositional processes, including bioturbation. The best-fitting susceptibility ellipsoids were usually oblate with near vertical minimum susceptibility axes.     

Magnetic fabric, welding texture and strain fabric in the Nuraxi Tuff, Sardinia, Italy

Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) has been used to interpret flow directions in ignimbrites, but no study has demonstrated that the AMS fabric corresponds to the flow fabric. In this paper, we show that the AMS and strain fabric coincide in a high-grade ignimbrite, the Nuraxi Tuff, a Miocene rhyolitic ignimbrite displaying a wide variability of rheomorphic features and a well-defined magnetic fabric. Natural remanent magnetization (NRM) data indicate that the magnetization of the tuff is homogeneous and was acquired at high temperatures by Ti-magnetite crystals. Comparison between the magnetic fabric and the deformation features along a representative section shows that AMS and anisotropy of isothermal remanent magnetization (AIRM) fabric are coaxial with and reproduce the shape of the strain ellipsoid. Magnetic tests and scanning electron microscopy observations indicate that the fabric is due to trails of micrometer-size, pseudo-single domain, magnetically interacting magnetite crystals. Microlites formed along discontinuities such as shard rims and vesicle walls mimicking the petrofabric of the tuff. The fabric was thus acquired after deposition, before late rheomorphic processes, and accurately mimics homogeneous deformation features of the shards during welding processes and mass flow.     

阿尔金断裂带西段磁组构特征及其构造意义

变形岩石的磁组构参数K_max、K_int、K_min、P、T、F、L、E等可以用来定量地表征构造变形的形状及期次.本文通过对阿尔金断裂带（郭扎错—空喀山口段）中岩石磁组构特征分析,认为该断裂带具多期活动性,变形性状由早到晚依次表现为韧性、韧-脆性及脆性变形,应力机制为剪切以及带有剪切性质的拉伸和压扁,主应力方向为NNE-SSW和近SN向.磁组构特征还表明该断裂带两侧断块相对差异运动在不同地区有所不同,而且它们所经历的构造期次以及各期活动的应力机制、影响程度也有明显区别.此外,磁组构数据显示阿尔金断裂带具有中间变形强、向两侧变形逐渐减弱的准对称特点,其早期变形具有由东往西逐渐减弱的变化规律.由磁组构揭示的应力应变特征与野外露头、显微构造和古应力测量结果一致.     

MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY ANISOTROPY OF VARIOUS ROCK TYPES AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR GEOPHYSICS AND GEOLOGY*

In the interpretation of magnetic anomalies and in paleomagnetism, the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility is commonly neglected. Nevertheless, this property has basic significance, because, owing to susceptibility anisotropy, the directions of the vectors of induced and remanent magnetization are deflected from the direction of the Earth's magnetic field. Almost all rock types investigated possess higher or lower degree of the susceptibility anisotropy. Effusive and sedimentary rocks have the lowest degree of anisotropy. For the latter, the “masking effect” of the paramagnetic mineral components has some influence on the anisotropy degree due to the low mean susceptibility of sedimentary rocks. Metamorphic and plutonic rocks usually exhibit a considerable degree of anisotropy. The highest degree of anisotropy has been found in the rocks containing ferromagnetic minerals with mimetic fabric. The dependence of the degree of the susceptibility anisotropy on the degree of metamorphism proved to be very complicated; of the rock sequence from slates to gneisses, the transient rocks (roofing slates and mica-schist-gneisses) showed the highest degree of anisotropy. This result can be used in geology for reliable determination of these rock types.     

Comparing crustal and mantle fabric from the North American craton using magnetics and seismic anisotropy

A central target in Earth sciences is the study of deformation at various depth levels within the Earth. Seismology has offered a remarkable tool for doing this via seismic anisotropy. It is however not always clear how to interpret those observations. A question of interest is to understand the relation between the deformation of the mantle and the crust, and in studying the relation between the two. Mantle deformation is expressed in seismic anisotropy. In this paper we seek an objective way of extracting information about crustal fabric as well, to be able to compare with seismic anisotropy. The magnetization of crustal rocks offers an attractive possibility for doing this. We thus explore the use of magnetic data, and we compare magnetic crustal fabric orientation with mantle fabric observations from seismic anisotropy. We apply our technique to the North American craton for which we have an excellent magnetic dataset, and we show that there is a clear relation between crustal and mantle fabric for the cratonic region. This has important implications for crustal formation, and for interpreting seismic anisotropy observations.     

Modelling the relationship between magnetic fabric and strain in polymineralic rocks

We present a model that is applicable to the relatively frequent case of rocks in which the magnetic fabric is dominated by uniaxial paramagnetic minerals, and in which the deformation (pure shear) corresponds to the March-Fernandez model. Borradaile et al.'s procedure for the isolation of the magnetic fabric of monocrystals of anisotropic components allows us to obtain the magnetic properties equivalent to those of all the component minerals if they should be artificially aligned. In the case of real component minerals with similar shape parameters, χ (dependent on dimension ratio), these properties will correspond to those of a theoretical equivalent mineral. Therefore, finite strain and orientation tensors may be determined from magnetic fabric measurements of such polymineralic rocks.     

The origin of cleavage in the light of magnetic anisotropy investigations

The cleavage origin in rocks ranging from unmetamorphosed sediments, through slates to phyllites of the Nízký Jeseník Mts. (northern Moravia, Czechoslovakia), which show a range of deformation styles, from undeformed through fracture and slaty cleavage to the development of metamorphic foliation, was studied by means of magnetic anisotropy. These studies have shown that the fracture cleavage probably originated during a post-plastic rock deformation. Therefore the orientation of the fracture cleavage with respect to the strain-tensor components cannot be studied by means of magnetic anisotropy. The magnetic fabric of rocks with slaty cleavage was generated through componental movements during the ductile rock deformation. The slaty cleavage developed perpendicularly to the maximum shortening direction. In the rocks exhibiting macroscopically observable marks of slippage along the slaty cleavage, the slippage probably took place after the slaty cleavage developed, when the rock ductility was lower. The metamorphic foliation developed from the slaty cleavage in the course of continuous strain.     

The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility of lava flows: an experimental approach

Measurements of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) of natural lavas have shown that AMS varies with depth within a lava flow. We have investigated the reasons for such variation by studying the effects of temperature and strain rate on the AMS of recent lava in the laboratory. Samples of lava from Kilauea were melted and subjected to a range of strain rate and cooling histories. The results show that the degree of anisotropy is a function of both the thermal and shearing history of a sample. High degrees of anisotropy were found only in samples that were deformed at temperatures close to those encountered during eruption and then rapidly quenched. Lavas subjected to similar shear stresses at high temperatures had low degrees of anisotropy if allowed to cool down slowly without further deformation. Additionally, lava subjected to complex shearing yield a lower degree of anisotropy even when high strain rates were imposed on it. These results lead to the conclusion that only the last phase of deformation is detectable using AMS and that high strain rates will not result in high degrees of anisotropy if either deformation ends while lava is still fluid or if the orientation of the maximum shear stress varies with time. The relation between the orientation of the principal susceptibilities and that of shear is less sensitive to variation on shear with time. Consequently, flow directions can be inferred confidently with this type of measurements.     

岩浆岩磁组构的实验模拟研究

岩浆岩的模拟实验,由于其实验条件的可控性,能够较好地研究岩浆岩的影响因素及其机理．本文实验表明,岩浆岩的磁组构除与成岩时的流动有关外,还受地磁场及重力场的影响,当流动较强时,岩浆岩的磁线理与流动方向有很好的一致性;当流动较弱时,地磁场方向的影响更大．另外,由于岩浆岩较弱的磁各向异性,以及成岩后期各种因素的影响,使其机理呈现复杂性,主轴方位具有分散性．     

Structure of a hypovolcanic acid complex inferred from magnetic susceptibility anisotropy measurements: the Western Red Hills granites (Skye,Scotland, Thulean Igneous Province)

 The geochemistry and the injection mechanism of hypovolcanic ring dykes have been extensively studied, but such is not the case for their internal fabric. The Tertiary Western Red Hills epigranites of the Isle of Skye are a classic example of such intrusions. Using anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility measurements, we present the first structural data of their internal magmatic fabric. The magnetic foliations, equated with the magmatic flow planes, have strikes which roughly follow the walls of the different intrusions. They dip steeply toward the convex wall of each intrusion. The lineations, or maximal magnetic susceptibility axes, generally have shallow plunges, except in the latest granite intrusion. These structures appear to be related to the compressional deformation of each intrusion toward the end of its crystallization. This shortening would be a consequence of a radial and compressive stress field acting after each injection of magma. This radial stress field is interpreted as the effect of high magma pressures originating from the acid magma chamber underlying the ring-dyke complex at a shallow depth. Received: 10 October 1995 / Accepted: 4 June 1997     

New insights into asymmetric folding by means of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility,Variscan and Pyrenean folds (SW Pyrenees)

Magnetic fabric allows to unravel the petrofabrics of sedimentary rocks and to assess their deformational history. The use of this technique, in addition to classical structural field observations in the limbs of seven asymmetric folds in the Pyrenees, helps to determine the differences of internal deformation as well as the folding kinematics. Three folds developed during the Variscan Orogeny in Ordovician and Devonian rocks, and four folds developed during the Pyrenean Orogeny in Eocene rocks, are studied. Folds show a variety of structural locations, in different thrust sheets of the Southern Central Pyrenees, different cleavage development, age, geometry and lithology. Sampling follows an equivalent lithological layer in the two limbs, except for one case, of the selected folds. Results show a modified tectonic magnetic fabric in most sites with the magnetic lineation on the tectonic foliation plane. A larger scattering of the magnetic lineation (maximum magnetic anisotropy axis) and a higher intensity of the preferred orientation of minerals (eccentricity of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility - AMS ellipsoid) is better observed in the overturned (short) limb of the asymmetric Variscan folds than in the normal (long) limb. On the other hand, the shape parameter in Alpine folds is generally larger in the overturned (short) limb then in the normal (long) one. A good clustering of the minimum magnetic anisotropy axes is observed in all limbs. The combination of the AMS data with the structural data helps to understand and better constrain the deformation degree in these asymmetric folds and to unravel the deformational history.     

Heating-induced changes in the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility of impact breccias, Chicxulub Crater (Mexico)

Initial results of a thermal treatment study on the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) of impact breccias from Chicxulub crater are used to investigate the nature of the magnetic fabrics. Chicxulub impact breccias are heterogeneous materials, with carbonate, basement and melt clasts within carbonate-rich or melt-rich matrix. Samples studied come from the carbonate-rich basal unit Lower Suevite in the Yaxcopoil-1 borehole impactite sequence (core depth interval: 885?C895 m). The Lower Suevite is characterized by mixed prolate and oblate ellipsoids with shallow to steep principal susceptibility axes, which had been related to emplacement as an excavation flow with ground-surge components during the early cratering stages. Thermal treatment results in changes in the fabrics with a tendency to oblate fabrics. Stepwise thermal treatment up to 700°C reveals different behaviors for the oblate, neutral and prolate fabrics marked by changes in AMS parameters and principal susceptibility axis orientations. A sample with oblate fabrics and vertical minimum axes showed an increase of magnetic susceptibility at high temperatures, indicating formation of secondary magnetite and fabric enhancement. A sample with neutral ellipsoid showed heating-induced changes towards oblate fabrics and vertical minimum susceptibility axes. Samples characterized by prolate ellipsoids with horizontal maximum axes showed no directional changes. In a sample with apparent intermediate or inverse fabrics, vertical maximum axes showed changes to horizontal inclinations, with the intermediate and maximum axes switching positions. Changes induced by stepwise thermal treatment appear useful to characterize the fabrics of impact lithologies. Further investigation of heating-induced effects in mineralogy, grain size and textural changes is, however, required to relate the different behaviors observed after stepwise thermal treatment with the magnetic mineralogy and emplacement mode of the breccias.