The magnetic anisotropy of basalts and its variations under oxidation of titanomagnetites

Summary Using four samples of basaltic rocks from the Bohemian Massif, Nos 201, 202, 206 and 218, the curves of rotational moments in a magnetic field of 4 × 10⁵ A/m were studied as a function of the degree of oxidation of titanomagnetites. The amplitudes of the individual harmonics were determined by harmonic analysis for samples oxidized to various degrees. It was found that the proportion of the harmonic A ₁ withsin increases with the degree of oxidation. Simultaneously, the anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility changes in a field of 60 A/m and the structure changes from linearly parallel to plane parallel.     

Changes of anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility of rocks induced by a magnetic field

Summary The changes of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility of igneous rocks, induced by a magnetic field, are studied. It is proved that changes in the degree of anisotropy of susceptibility and of the orientation of the susceptibility ellispoid of specimens occur due to the configuration of the domain structure under the effect of the magnetic field. The influence of this effect on the total anisotropy of rocks depends on the degree of anisotropy due to the shape factor and on the stability of the domain structure. A model concept is presented, explaining the qualitatively different pattern of the changes of the anisotropy of susceptibility under the effect of the magnetic field in various directions of the specimens.     

Magnetisation of titanomagnetites from Bulgarian basalts

A number of basalt samples containing titanomagnetites, with varying degrees and modes of oxidation, have been collected from 13 sites in northern Bulgaria, the degree of oxidation being determined from Curie point and lattice parameter determination. The stability of natural remanent magnetization and artificially induced thermoremanences (TRM) has been studied in an attempt to determine whether the oxidized rocks carry a TRM inherited from their original, unoxidized state. From the samples studied, it appears that the intensity and direction of the original TRM's are retained, but that there is some loss in stability.     

Change of structure,phase composition and magnetic properties with the oxidation of titanomagnetites

Summary Phase, structural and magnetic changes, occurring under oxidation and at increased temperatures, are studied on four samples of magnetic fractions. The samples of magnetic fractions, containing titanomagnetites at different oxidation levels, were oxidized at a temperature of 400°C for 1, 60 and 300 mins. With the aid of X-rays and Mössbauer's spectrometry it has been proved that under oxidation non-stoichiometric titanomagnetites and titanomagnetites plus ilmenite and pseudobrookite are formed.     

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.     

Field-induced anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility in rocks

Summary An induced anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility results from the domain alignment which is produced by treating stationary specimens in a strong alternating field. Appreciable domain re-orientation occurs in fields as low as 50 oersteds and the effect must therefore normally be an important part of the process of alternating field demagnetization. Induced anisotropy has been measured in a number of igneous rocks with a range of palaeomagnetic stabilities and in magnetite powders of controlled grain sizes, dispersed in plaster or kaolin specimens which were mechanically deformed to produce instrinsic magnetic anisotropy by grain alignment. The saturation magnitude of the induced anisotropy is not a function of grain size but the saturating field required increases with decreasing grain size. In the larger grains, induced anisotropy is a function of grain orientation.     

Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility variations in Icelandic columnar basalts

The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) has been determined for 81 samples from eleven horizontal columnar segments from two Icelandic near-vertical dikes. Near-vertical orientation of short AMS axes and corresponding long-axis horizontal orientations in most columns represents alignments consistent with compactive effects due to vertically directed forces exerted by overlying columns. These data are inconsistent with primary orientations resulting from thermal contractive stresses, but such stresses may be responsible for the secondary orientations observed.     

Characteristic of magnetic susceptibility anisotropy in and around Laji Shan and its geological significance

This paper deals with the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) of Laji Shan and its adjacent areas. Cenozoic sediment is a suite of mudstone and sandstone, which underwent weak deformation and no metamorphism. Most of the magnetic ellipsoids are oblate withK _max trending NW-SE, and the minimum axesK _min show a large deviation from the poles of bedding planes with an NE preferred direction. Taken together, they reflect that the magnetic fabric is mainly of tectonic origin. In the study area, the NE-SW orientation ofK _min represents the recent principal compression direction. This point is substantiated by the structures in sites where magnetic fabric data are also available. The stress field provides a strong support for the sustained uplift of Laji Shan and its adjacent areas in the late Tertiary-Quaternary period.

     

On the complex magnetic behaviour of titanomagnetites

The bulk magnetic properties, including Curie temperature, susceptibility and hysteresis at various temperatures, and the Mössbauer spectra of coarse synthetic members of the titanomagnetite series are compared as a function of titanium content, using some previously reported and some new results. It has been noted previously that the titanium-rich members fail to show the expected “true multidomain” behaviour observed in pure magnetite. One possible explanation is that the behaviour observed may be due to a tendency to inhibit domain wall formation in some titanomagnetites. In this paper we discuss some other possible mechanisms to account for the magnetic properties of such titanomagnetites observable even when domain-wall-related structures do form in them. These mechanisms suggest that magnetocrystalline anisotropy and its temperature dependence in titanomagnetites may be related to local magnetic inhomogeneities, and do not depend only on crystal structure as in the case of classical ferromagnetic materials.     

Low-temperature oxidation of synthetic Al- and Mg-doped titanomagnetites

Al- and Mg-doped titanomagnetites were synthesized at 1300°C using the gas-mixing technique. A composition, representative of average natural titanomagnetites in ocean floor basalts, was sought.

The samples were ball-milled in acetone to average grain sizes of 0.5 μm and 5 μm and the material was then oxidised, in air, at temperatures below 300°C. This procedure formed titanomaghemite, a cation-deficient titanomagnetite.

Low-temperature oxidation is described as the diffusion of Fe-ions out of the spinel lattice and the process is observed to be distinctly dependent upon grain size.     

On the standardization of measurements of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility

The magnetic anisotropy of several artificially constructed samples has been measured with different types of instruments in several laboratories. Susceptibility bridge determinations have given consistent results, but the magnitude of the anisotropy determined by the Digico anisotropy delineator is incorrect. For future measurements with this instrument it is necessary to make either a simple calibration change or to make a minor change in the associated computer program. A set of equations for correcting the old published data is given.     

Low temperature magnetic properties of titanomagnetites

New measurements of high field magnetisation (I_s), remanence (I_s), and coercive force (H_c) are presented between 4 and 300 K for x = 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.8 (Fe_3−xTi_xO₄). For x = 0.4 a pronounced minimum is found at T100 K and for X = 0.5 and 0.6 broad minima occur around T200 K, apparently coinciding with the temperature for K₁0. The magnetic properties below T60 K ar complex and were found to be significantly changed by cooling in the presence of a high magnetic field. With no applied field during cooling, a distinct decrease in I_s is observed for T60 K, at which temperature there is a peak in the value of I_rs. The effe cooling is to eliminate the sharp decrease in I_s, reduce H_c and to increase I_rs below 60 K to a value the peak value, giving essentially a square hysteresis loop. The results are interpreted in terms of a form of crystallographic phase transition coupled to the magnetisation direction, possibly by the magnetostriction. Square hysteresis loops in ferrites have been explained by the presence of Jahn-Teller ions and, in the present case, the low temperature of the observed effect may be a consequence of the weak Fe²⁺ Jahn-Teller ion coupled to other effects such as spin-lattice coupling.

Details of this work can be found in Schmidbauer, E. and Readman, P.W., 1982. Low temperature magnetic properties of Ti-rich Fe---Ti spinels. J. Magn. Magn. Mat., 27: 114–118. A paper reporting further work on Fe_2.4Ti0.6O0.4 is in preparation.     

Precision A.C. bridge set for measuring magnetic susceptibility of rocks and its anisotropy

Summary A bridge set for measuring the magnetic susceptibility of rocks and its anisotropy is described. The classical transformer bridge has been supplemented with an auxiliary compensating arm for balancing the bridge without any mechanical infringement of the measuring coils. By employing this principle and the appropriate methods a sensitivityof 4 × 10 ^–8 SI units (3 × 10 ^–9 e.m.u./cm³) has been achieved for a sample of 8 cm³ in volume. In addition to its high sensitivity the device has a considerable accuracy, which makes it suitable for susceptibility anisotropy measurements even of samples with a very low susceptibility and only slight anisotropy. Well-reproducible results have been achieved for samples with a mean susceptibility of the order of10 ^–5 SI units with an anisotropy degree of only about 1.05.Institute of Applied Geophysics.     

Exsolution microstructures in titanomagnetites and their magnetic significance

A survey, carried out using transmission electron microscopy, of exsolution-derived microstructures developed in titanomagnetites is presented. Microstructures, probably produced by spinodal decomposition, consist of a three-dimensional lamellar framework of ulvospinel, separating magnetite-enriched blocks. In coarser textures the magnetite-enriched regions have a plate morphology, and the ulvospinel-enriched lamellae develop secondary exsolution textures. The implications of exsolution for the magnetic properties of titanomagnetites are discussed. The coarsening of exsolution textures will cause the blocking temperature of the magnetite-enriched regions to increase with time. The development of magnetite-enriched plates may alter the magnetic properties of the titanomagnetite, as may the stress associated with some of the small scale, coherent microstructures.     

The laboratory simulation of deuteric oxidation of titanomagnetites: effect on magnetic properties and stability of thermoremanence

Synthetic single crystals of titanomagnetite of nominal composition Fe_2.4Ti_0.6O₄ have been oxidized at 1275°C in controlled gas atmospheres, producing multiphase intergrowths to simulate the natural process of deuteric oxidation. The evolution of the intergrowths was monitored using the conventional techniques of petrology: optical and electron microscopy and X-ray and electron microprobe analyses. In addition, the measured magnetic properties — particularly the temperature-dependence of hysteresis properties — provided further information about the composition and concentrations of magnetic phases, and their domain state, as oxidation proceeded. The evolution of a trellis pattern of ilmenite lamellae, characteristic of the “exsolution” stages of deuteric oxidation, was observed in the oxidized crystals. The interlamellar spinel region consisted of two iron-enriched titanomagnetites, one thought to occur along the lamellar boundaries. The magnetic hardness of both phases was found to be greater than the original homogeneous multidomain titanomagnetite crystals, although neither phase achieved monodomain characteristics, and the stability of thermoremanence (TRM) remained quite low (median destructive fields (MDF) of the order of a few thousend A m^?1). The lamellae made little contribution to the total remanence. A sharp rise in magnetic hardness, observed during the post-exsolution stages of oxidation, was due to the presence of fine-grain monodomain magnetite, thought to be distributed within the haemoilmenite matrix, but probably not having been formed by lamellar subdivision. The crystals could now carry an intense and stable TRM with MDFs of many tens of thousands of A m^?1.     

A brief outline of the magnetic susceptibility anisotropy of various rock types

Summary In the first part of this paper, the main geological and geophysical applications of magnetic susceptibility anisotropy are briefly described. In the second part, the data on the magnetic anisotropy of various rock types are summarized and some conclusions concerning its significance are deduced. For this purpose, all accessible data were used.Dedicated to 90th Birthday of Professor Frantiek Fiala     

Correlation of strain with anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS)

Existing correlations between strain and anisotropy of low-field magnetic susceptibility (AMS) have been re-assessed using a single parameter to express both anisotropies. TheP parameter (Hrouda, 1982) shows potential as a powerful single expression of the intensity of strain and of AMS. Previous correlations are improved by use of this parameter. Cautious optimism is justified for correlations between strain and susceptibility in a certain strain window between a lower limit (excluding the incomplete overprint of predeformation anisotropy) and an upper limit (excluding the effects of saturation anisotropy). For successful correlations the influence of stress-controlled recrystallisation should be minimal and the mineralogical sources of susceptibility must predate deformation.     

High-temperature hysteresis and other magnetic properties of synthetic monodomain titanomagnetites

A suite of synthetic titanomagnetites of composition Fe_2.4?δAl_δTi_0.6O₄ and Fe_2.6?δAl_δTi_0.4O₄ (δ = 0, 0.1 and 0.2 in both cases) have been prepared by a method of partial self-buffering and pulverized in a ball mill to particle size of about 200–500 Å. Magnetic hysteresis parameters-saturation and remanent magnetizations and coercive force were measured between room temperature and the Curie temperatures and other parameters-X-ray cell edge, initial susceptibility and coercive force of remanence were determined at room temperature. The intrinsic magnetic “hardness” increases with increasing content of Al³⁺ and Ti⁴⁺, both probably corresponding to an increase in the concentration of Fe²⁺ ions on the tetrahedral sites of the spinel structure. The room-temperature hysteresis properties were compared with those resulting from monodomain models for the work done to magnetically saturate an assemblage of grains and the approach to saturation, and the separate contributions from coexisting anisotropies of cubic and uniaxial symmetries (assumed present) inferred. The cubic anisotropy energy constants so derived are larger than those determined from multidomain single crystals. The derived cubic constants are also larger than the derived uniaxial anisotropy constants. The latter, however, dominate the behaviour (e.g., coercive force) because of the lower symmetry. The materials appear to be entirely in the stable monodomain state at room temperature.