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.     

重力全张量数据联合欧拉反褶积法研究及应用

全张量测量技术是在空中或海上用加载了多个加速度计的移动平台技术测量位场的五个独立分量.各张量分量包含不同方向的地下地质体信息,水平张量分量T_(xx)、T_(yy)、T_(xy)、T_(xz)、T_(yz)通常用于识别和映射与地质构造或地层变化有关的测量区域中的目标,垂直张量分量Tzz用于估计深度.然而,这些分量传统上是彼此分开解释,经常遇到错失关键信息的风险.本文所用全张量欧拉反褶积是在单独z方向的欧拉反演基础上发展而来的,它融合了重力异常垂直分量以及其三个方向导数、水平分量以及其三个方向导数.全张量数据信息得以有效应用的同时,欧拉反褶积结果也比常规欧拉反褶积结果更加收敛.最后,结合美国墨西哥湾地区实测航空FTG数据,用重力梯度张量数据进行联合欧拉三维反演研究,有效的识别岩盖的边界信息,划分岩盖范围,为进一步研究盖层底下深部复杂地质情况提供可靠的解释结果.     

利用GRACE重力和重力梯度变化估计2012年苏门答腊地震断层参数

2012年4月11日苏门答腊北部附近海域发生M_W=8.6地震,国际上采用不同数据获得了该地震的断层滑动模型,但断层走滑性质存在较大差异.卫星重力GRACE（Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment）观测覆盖震中区域,可以提供很好的断层参数估计约束.本文采用GRACE月重力场模型数据提取了此次地震同震重力和重力梯度变化,表明了北向分量的优越性.并与断层模型理论计算结果进行了比较,分析了T_xx（北-北向重力梯度）分量对断层参数的敏感性,以及基于粒子群算法以及Okubo位错模型反演了该地震断层参数.结果表明GRACE观测到的同震重力梯度变化在空间形态分布上与断层模型模拟结果符合较好,但振幅差异较大.重力和重力梯度的北向分量可以很好地压制条带误差,其中g_N（北向重力变化）和T_xx的误差最小,其次是T_xz（北-上向重力梯度）,误差最大和对条带误差抑制效果最差的是T_xy（北-东向重力梯度）.T_xx对断层的深度不敏感,对其余断层参数较敏感.基于GRACE反演得到的断层的走向角为113.63°,倾角为89.99°,滑移角为175.26°,平均滑移量为28.18 m,相应的矩震为8.71级,且此次地震的走滑性质为右旋走滑.     

Bias and variance of quantile estimates from a partial duration series

Partial duration series methods have been used to estimate the T-year event Z_T of a hydrological variable. In this paper the maximum likelihood estimate of Z_T is considered for the model with a Poisson number of peaks and independently, exponentially distributed peak magnitudes. The mean and the variance of are evaluated by finite summations. Approximations to the bias of are discussed. Although the use of a first-order asymptotic expression for var( ) has been criticized by earlier workers, the results from this study indicate that the error is small for the most common values of T. It is further shown that small departures from the assumed model can have a large impact on var( ).     

Rock magnetic criteria for the detection of biogenic magnetite

We report results on the magnetic properties of magnetites produced by magnetotactic and dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria. Magnetotactic bacterial (MTB) strains MS1, MV1 and MV2 and dissimilatory iron-reducing bacterium strain GS-15, grown in pure cultures, were used in this study. Our results suggest that a combination of room temperature coercivity analysis and low temperature remanence measurements provides a characteristic magnetic signature for intact chains of single domain (SD) particles of magnetite from MTBs. The most useful magnetic property measurements include: (1) acquisition and demagnetization of isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) using static, pulse and alternating fields; (2) acquisition of anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM); and (3) thermal dependence of low temperature (20 K) saturation IRM after cooling in zero field (ZFC) or in a 2.5 T field (FC) from 300 K. However, potentially the most diagnostic magnetic parameter for magnetosome chain identification in bulk sediment samples is related to the difference between low temperature zero-field and field cooled SIRMs on warming through the Verwey transition (T ≈ 100 K). Intact chains of unoxidized magnetite magnetosomes have ratios of δ_FC/δ_ZFC greater than 2, where the parameter δ is a measure of the amount of remanence lost by warming through the Verwey transition. Disruption of the chain structure or conversion of the magnetosomes to maghemite reduces the δ_FC/δ_ZFC ratio to around 1, similar to values observed for some inorganic magnetite, maghemite, greigite and GS-15 particles. Numerical simulations of δ_FC/δ_ZFC ratios for simple binary mixtures of magnetosome chains and inorganic magnetic fractions suggest that the δ_FC/δ_ZFC parameter can be a sensitive indicator of biogenic magnetite in the form of intact chains of magnetite magnetosomes and can be a useful magnetic technique for identifying them in whole-sediment samples. The strength of our approach lies in the comparative ease and rapidity with which magnetic measurements can be made, compared to techniques such as electron microscopy.     

Some magnetic properties of synthetic and natural haematite of different grain size

The behaviour of some magnetic properties of natural and synthetic haematite of different grain size is examined. The natural haematite was obtained from the hydrothermal deposit Kada (Czech and Slovak Federal Rep.). Six grain-size fractions ranging from 120 to 40 μm were prepared by means of sieving and two further fractions down to 5 μm by wet ultrasonic sieving. Since the behaviour of the fractions is similar, that of only four representative samples is reported. In addition, the behaviour of one submicron synthetic haematite fraction (0.5 μm) prepared by oxidation of ferrous sulphate (uniform in size and shape) was investigated.

The initial remanence value (J_r) seems to increase with decreasing grain size. During alternating field (AF) demagnetization, all fractions behaved similarly, except for the submicron fraction which is considerably softer than the others. Normalized (isothermal remanent magnetization) IRM acquisition curves were similar for all fractions.

Parameters of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) display significant changes, mainly during IRM acquisition. During AF demagnetization, the anisotropy degree P exhibits a slight increase (some %), while the behaviour of the shape factor T is complicated. The anisotropy ellipsoid exhibits a tendency to rotate. Significant changes in the AMS parameters occur during IRM acquisition. Curves of P and T vs. IRM acquisition field, for various grain-size fractions, show no coherent pattern. For all the samples studied, the T vs. H curve exhibits a threshold value at which change in the type of arrangement of easy axis of magnetization occurs. For the IRM acquisition fields higher than some 320 kA m⁻¹, the minimum susceptibility axis parallels the direction of the IRM acquisition field.

Hysteresis curves of the fractions are similar to each other. The Preisach distribution function was determined and it indicates that the reversible part of the magnetization process plays an important role comparatively. Based on the coercivity data presented no unambiguous conclusion could be drawn from the single-domain (SD)-multidomain (MD) transition, associated with a coercivity maximum.     

A comparison of ARM and TRM in magnetite

Experiments comparing anhysteretic remanence (ARM) and thermoremanence (TRM) in samples containing natural and synthetic magnetite, whose mean particle sizes range from single domain to multidomain, show that ARM and TRM are very similar (but not identical) in their stabilities with respect to alternating field (AF) demagnetization, temperature cycles in zero field to below magnetite's isotropic temperature near 130°K, and stability with respect to spontaneous decay in zero field. Therefore, for magnetites, ARM can be used to model (with reasonable success) these stability properties of TRM. The field dependence of the acquisition of ARM and TRM shows that the low field susceptibility ratio, χ_ARM/χ_TRM, has a particle size dependence, increasing from 0.1 for certain submicron particles to 2.0 for large multidomain crystals. Even for samples whose remanence is predominantly carried by submicron particles χ_ARM/χ_TRM is highly variable, 0.11 ≤ χ_ARM/χ_TRM ≤ 0.50. Therefore, ARM paleointensity methods which do not take into account the large variability in and the particle size dependence of χ_ARM/χ_TRM are subject to order-of-magnitude uncertainties.     

Reliability of geomagnetic paleointensity data: the effects of the NRM fraction and concave-up behavior on paleointensity determinations by the Thellier method

To test the reliability of the Thellier method for paleointensity determinations, we studied six historic lavas from Hawaii and two Gauss-age lava flows from Raiatea Island (French Polynesia). Our aim is to investigate the effects of the NRM fraction and concave-up behavior of NRM–thermal remanent magnetization (TRM) diagrams on paleointensity determinations. For the Hawaiian samples, the paleointensity results were investigated at both sample and site levels. For consistency and confidence in the paleointensity results, it is important to measure multiple samples from each cooling unit. The results from the Raiatea Island samples confirm that reliable paleointensities can be obtained from NRM–TRM diagrams with concave-up curvature, provided the data are accompanied by successful partial TRM (pTRM) checks and no significant chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) production. We conclude that reliable determinations of the paleofield strength require analyses of linear segments representing at least 40–50% of the total NRM. This new criterion has to be considered for future studies and for evaluating published paleointensities for calculating average geomagnetic field models. Using this condition together with other commonly employed selection criteria, the observed mean site paleointensities are typically within 10% of the Definitive Geomagnetic Reference Field (DGRF). Our new results for the Hawaii 1960 lava flow are in excellent agreement with the expected value, in contrast to significant discrepancies observed in some earlier studies.

Overestimates of paleointensity determinations can arise from cooling-rate dependence of TRM acquisition, viscous remanent magnetization (VRM) at elevated temperatures, and TRM properties of multidomain (MD) particles. These outcomes are exaggerated at lower temperature ranges. Therefore, we suggest that, provided the pTRM checks are successful and there is no significant CRM production, it is better to increase the NRM fraction used in paleointensity analyses rather than to maximize correlation coefficients of line segments on the NRM–TRM diagrams.

We introduce the factor, Q = Nq, to assess the quality of the weighted mean paleointensity, H_w, for each cooling unit.     

A magnetic study of single-crystal titanomagnetite (Fe2.4Ti0.6O4)

Single crystals of approximate composition Fe_2.4Ti_0.6O₄ were prepared from which spherical samples of diameters 1–2 mm were obtained. The measured values of the Königsberger ratio, the ratio of saturation remanence to saturation magnetization and a Lowrie-Fuller test showed that they were multidomain in character. The temperature variation of the coercive force and saturation magnetization was measured between room temperature and the Curie point. The field dependence of intensity of acquired thermoremanent magnetization (TRM) was determined. The predictions of some of the theoretical models for multidomain TRM, which, of necessity, apply to simplifications of real materials (either natural or synthetic), compare favourably with the results of the present study. The validity of the assumptions made in this comparison is discussed.     

COSMIC数据验证FY-3 MWTS通道4的观测结果

利用无线电掩星探测在平流层具有较高精度和稳定性的优势,本文采用COSMIC资料验证我国风云3号(FY-3)系列卫星上微波温度探测仪(MWTS)通道4表征的平流层低层测量结果.两年的FY-3A/3B上MWTS通道4观测亮温与掩星数据模拟的亮温相比较分析表明:两颗卫星平台上MWTS通道4观测亮温都偏高,尤其在热带地区和极区夏季;FY3A/3B上MWTS通道4亮温偏差的月均值变化趋势较为一致,两个年份的变化趋势也较为一致.MWTS通道4表征的平流层低层观测亮温在不同纬度带呈现不同偏差分布特征:热带地区明显系统偏高2~4 K,中纬度地区偏高1 K;而高纬度地区则出现随季节显著变化的偏差,尤其在南极地区季节差异达到5 K,这种依赖于环境温度出现的较大亮温偏差不完全是频率偏移引起.热带地区观测与模拟亮温差异显著,并且热带地区样本对于全球总体亮温偏差影响程度达到20%,这表明COSMIC数据在热带地区的验证结果需谨慎使用.     

鲁西平原地区土体剪切波速与埋深关系研究

鲁西平原地区属黄河冲积平原,地势平坦,工程地质情况较单一,场地类别以Ⅲ类场地为主。利用鲁西平原地区常见土类的剪切波速与埋深的数据,使用4种回归模型建立了它们之间的经验关系式,并对这些经验式的合理性进行了讨论。结果表明:鲁西平原地区常见土类的剪切波速与埋深之间有明显的相关性,基于幂函数的回归模型（v_si=ah_i^b+c）得到的经验关系式拟合效果最佳,具有较好的应用价值。     

基于等效源的总强度磁异常非线性处理方法

总强度磁异常(ΔT1)常规处理方法通常将其近似当作磁异常矢量在地磁正常场方向上的投影(ΔT2).然而对于高磁环境如磁铁矿处的磁异常场幅值可达104 nT甚至更大的情况,上述近似假设则不再成立,如采用常规处理方法可能会带来明显的误差.本文针对该问题,提出一种基于等效源的总强度磁异常非线性处理方法;该方法根据总强度磁异常获取流程,直接反演实测地磁场总强度幅值与正常场强度幅值之差来求取等效场源.本文首先通过模型试验,分析ΔT1与ΔT2的差异;然后将ΔT1当作ΔT2采用常规处理方法以及ΔT1采用新方法得到的结果作对比分析,结果表明新方法处理结果与理论值的差异为常规方法处理结果的1/5甚至更小,充分说明了新方法的有效性;最后将该方法应用于铁矿实测总强度磁异常处理实例中来转换计算磁异常总模量,其实际应用效果进一步体现了高幅值总强度磁异常数据处理过程中采用新方法的必要性.     

Revisiting the Lowrie–Fuller test: alternating field demagnetization characteristics of single-domain through multidomain glass–ceramic magnetite

This paper reports the alternating field demagnetization characteristics of glass–ceramic magnetite assemblages carrying weak-field thermoremanent magnetization (TRM), weak-field anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM), and saturation remanence (J_rs). Average grain sizes vary from less than 0.1 μm to approximately 100 μm, and hysteresis parameters indicate that these assemblages encompass single-domain (SD) through truly multidomain (MD) behavior. In all assemblages, weak-field TRM and weak-field ARM are more stable to alternating field demagnetization than is (J_rs). This response is especially remarkable in the 100 μm assemblage, which otherwise displays truly MD behavior. Although the SD samples pass the Lowrie–Fuller test for SD behavior, calculations presented here show that populations of noninteracting, uniaxial SD grains should behave in just the opposite sense to that reported originally by Lowrie and Fuller. This discrepancy could indicate that SD, glass–ceramic magnetite populations are more affected by magnetic interactions than would be expected for magnetite crystals that nucleated individually from a silicate matrix. This interpretation is supported by the SD assemblages failing the ‘Cisowski' test: that is, the curves for acquisition and AF demagnetization of (J_rs) intersect well below the 50% mark. However, a second and intriguing explanation of the SD-like results obtained from all samples is that alternating field demagnetization characteristics reflect a strong dependence of local energy minimum domain state, and its associated stability, on the state of magnetization.     

曲靖非相干散射雷达电离层F区日间电子温度变化特征初步分析

利用曲靖非相干散射雷达2017—2018年春夏季观测数据首次分析了电离层日间150～450km电子温度的地方时与高度变化特征及其与电子密度的相关性.发现hmF2及以上的电子温度在日出日落时具有两个峰值,在11∶00—16∶00LT之间变化较小,高度越高午后上升的时间越早;从150km开始迅速增加,在约220km达到最大值,然后开始降低,在约300～350km达到最小值,最后单调上升;200km以下电子温度与电子密度成正相关(主要由热传导控制),200～450km之间存在明显的反相关(光电离过程占主导),电子-离子温度差与电子密度对数之间存在近似线性关系,电子温度逐日变化与光电离因子的变化趋势相似,这种相关性在中午与午后更明显;以上结果与其他非相干散射雷达观测和电离层模型计算结果基本一致,但也存在一些差别,需要结合更多数据深入分析.     

数据类型对三维地面可控源电磁勘探效果的影响

本文基于考虑人工场源辐射的可控源地面电磁勘探三维数值模拟技术,以目前常用的标量可控源音频大地电磁勘探测量方式为依据,讨论地面可控源三维电磁勘探中,为达到最佳的探测效果,如何选择合适的反演数据类型.地面可控源数据的三维反演采用有限内存拟牛顿方法.反演过程中,三维可控源频率域响应数值计算采用交错网格有限差分法,求解基于二次电场的Helmholtz方程.发射装置采用长度为1000m的有限长直导线源,测量频率为10Hz;测点个数200个,分布在10条剖面上.在异常体分布区分别观测(1)电场Ex分量的振幅和相位,(2)Ex振幅,(3)Ex与Ey分量的振幅和相位,(4)Ex与Hy的振幅和相位.反演的数据类型分别为上述4种数据以及导出的阻抗Zxy振幅和相位.反演模型由30×30×20个网格组成,测区内水平方向大小为50m×50m,垂直方向厚度为50m,最后5层厚度倍增.反演都从均匀半空间开始,迭代120次结束.数值模拟结果发现,(1)单个电场分量Ex,其相位信息对异常体信息提取非常重要,若只反演该电场振幅,深部电阻率分辨率低;(2)观测正交电场的效果比单个电场分量效果好,其浅部异常的边缘效应明显减弱,深部异常形态完整;(3)同时观测正交的电场和磁场,反演效果与只观测电场振幅和相位的相当;(4)从阻抗数据反演得到的异常位置和电阻率分布均有较大的改善,反演模型分辨率最好.因此,在理论上,建议在野外数据采集时,最好测量正交电磁场;次之,同时测量正交的电场;最次的,可以只观测电场Ex的振幅和相位,亦可取得较足够的信息.但如果只能获得电场的振幅信息,反演结果的深部将出现较大的不确定性.     

Silicate perovskite analogue ScAlO3: temperature dependence of elastic moduli

The elastic moduli of ScAlO₃ perovskite, a very close structural analogue for MgSiO₃ perovskite, have been measured between 300 and 600 K using high precision ultrasonic interferometry in an internally heated gas-charged pressure vessel. This new capability for high temperature measurement of elastic wave speeds has been demonstrated on polycrystalline alumina. The temperature derivatives of elastic moduli of Al₂O₃ measured in this study agree within 15% with expectations based on published single-crystal data. For ScAlO₃ perovskite, the value of (∂K_S/∂T)_P is −0.033 GPa K⁻¹ and (∂G/∂T)_P is −0.015 GPa K⁻¹. The relative magnitudes of these derivatives agree with the observation in Duffy and Anderson [Duffy, T.S., Anderson, D.L., 1989. Seismic velocities in mantle minerals and the mineralogy of the upper mantle. J. Geophys. Res. 94, 1895–1912.] that |(∂K_S/∂T)_P| is typically about twice |(∂G/∂T)_P|. The value of (∂K_S/∂T)_P for ScAlO₃ is intermediate between those inferred less directly from V(P,T) studies of Fe-free and Fe- and Al-bearing MgSiO₃ perovskites [Wang, Y., Weidner, D.J., Liebermann, R.C., Zhao, Y., 1994. P–V–T equation of state of (Mg,Fe)SiO₃ perovskite: constraints on composition of the lower mantle. Phys. Earth Planet. Inter. 83, 13–40; Mao, H.K., Hemley, R.J., Shu, J., Chen, L., Jephcoat, A.P., Wu, Y., Bassett, W.A., 1991. Effect of pressure, temperature and composition on the lattice parameters and density of (Mg,Fe) SiO₃ perovskite to 30 GPa. J. Geophys. Res. 91, 8069–8079; Zhang, Weidner, D., 1999. Thermal equation of state of aluminum-enriched silicate perovskite. Science 284, 782–784]. The value of |(∂G/∂T)|_P for ScAlO₃ is similar to those of most other mantle silicate phases but lower than the recent determination for MgSiO₃ perovskite [Sinelnikov, Y., Chen, G., Neuville, D.R., Vaughan, M.T., Liebermann, R.C., 1998. Ultrasonic shear wave velocities of MgSiO₃ perovskite at 8 GPa and 800K and lower mantle composition. Science 281, 677–679].

Combining the results from the previous studies and current measurements on ScAlO₃ perovskite, we extracted the parameters (q and γ₀) needed to fully specify its Mie–Grüneisen–Debye equation-of-state. In this study, we have demonstrated that acoustic measurements of K_S(T), unlike V(P,T) data, tightly constrain the value of q. It is concluded that ScAlO₃ has ‘normal’ γ₀ (1.3) and high q (3.6). The high value of q indicates that ScAlO₃ has very strong intrinsic temperature dependence of the bulk modulus; similar behaviour has been observed in measurements on Fe- and Al-bearing silicate perovskites (Mao et al., 1991; Zhang and Weidner, 1999).     

三维井地磁测联合约束反演

井中磁测在铁矿等磁性金属矿床勘查中具有举足轻重的作用.针对磁性金属矿床深部资源勘查中存在的有效信号弱、矿体形态复杂等技术难题,本文利用井中三分量磁测资料和地面磁测资料直接反演地下空间磁化率的分布情况,充分发挥纵、横向分辨率高的优势,通过磁化率的变化来确定矿（化）体的范围.分析了磁化率和磁场H_ax、H_ay、Z_a、ΔT各参量之间的关系,导出了磁化率反演方程;将钻孔编录、磁化率测井等结果作为约束条件构建了目标函数.以组合倾斜板状体模型为例,验证了方法的有效性,并在青海野马泉铁多金属矿区开展应用试验,试验结果与已有地质资料基本一致.该方法有效抑制了因反演数据源单一、缺乏约束条件而造成反演结果的多解性,实现了磁测资料的精细反演解释,为查明地下矿体空间位置、形态及规模,提高找矿效果,提供了一种新的解决方案.     

基于MESSEGER观测对水星磁尾电流片磁场分布的统计研究

本文利用信使号飞船2011-2015年期间在轨磁场数据对水星磁尾电流片的磁场结构分布特征进行了统计分析.为探究磁场结构分布随水星径向距离的变化,电流片划分为近磁尾（-1.5R_M > X > -2.0R_M）和远磁尾（-2.0R_M > X > -2.5R_M）两个区域.所得结果表明：（1）无论是近磁尾还是远磁尾,电流片中的磁场都以+B_z分量为主,磁场方向几乎与磁赤道面垂直.（2）相比近磁尾,远磁尾电流片中磁场强度、B_z分量较弱,B_y分量较强,而且-B_z信号出现概率相对较大,这表明电流片中磁活动相对容易在远磁尾中发生.（3）磁场强度以及B_z分量在晨昏方向上的分布存在晨昏不对称性——在方位角120°~190°范围内相对较弱.弱B_z数据点（B_z<5 nT）也在昏侧（Y>0）发生较为频繁.（4）与B_z分布相反,磁场强B_y分量（|B_y|>5 nT）倾向于在晨侧（Y<0）发生.统计分析还表明,磁场B_y分量与行星际磁场B_y分量并无明显的相关性.对比地球磁尾电流片,我们对水星磁尾电流片B_z分量、强B_y分量的晨昏不对称起源机制作了探讨分析.     

Magnetic domain observations of nucleation processes in natural pyrrhotite and titanomagnetite

Magnetic domain patterns have been observed on particles of natural pyrrhotite and titanomagnetite undergoing hysteresis. These observations indicate that hysteresis properties are governed by two distinct mechanisms: (1) wall-pinning and (2) nucleation of reverse domains. Particles which are dominated by wall-pinning spontaneously nucleate reverse domains in saturation remanence (J_rs). The coercivity of such grains is determined by the presence of potential wells encountered by the wall in its traverse across the grain. However, many pseudosingle-domain particles (PSD) between 5 and 30 μm in diameter do not nucleate reverse domains in J_rs, but remain as saturated single-domains. These particles require a reverse field H_n to nucleate domain walls. When H_n is sufficiently large, the nucleating field controls magnetization reversal by driving the wall across the particle in a single Barkhausen jump, and the muscopic coercivity is nucleation-dominated.

The proportion P (w=0) of particles of a given size d which fail to nucleate walls in J_rs is found to be given by A exp(−Bd^1/2), where A and B are experimentally determined constants. The nucleation field H_n in pyrrhotite is observed to increase with decreasing grain size, exceeding 500 Oe in 5 μm particles.

The difficulty with which reverse domains are nucleated subsequent to saturation may thus provide a mechanism for achieving the high values of J_rs/J_s and coercive force observed in fine, pseudosingle-domain particles.     

Are ARM and TRM analogs? Thellier analysis of ARM and pseudo-Thellier analysis of TRM

We test the possibility of using the pseudo-Thellier method as a means of determining absolute paleointensity. Thellier analysis of anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM) and pseudo-Thellier analysis of thermoremanent magnetization (TRM) have been carried out on a large collection of sized synthetic magnetites and natural rocks. In all samples, the intensity of TRM is larger than that of ARM and the ratio R (=TRM/ARM) is strongly grain size dependent. The best-fit slope (b_TA) from pseudo-Thellier analysis of TRM shows a linear correlation with R. The ratio b_TA/R yielded approximately correct paleointensities, although uncertainties are larger than in typical Thellier-type determinations. For single-domain and multidomain magnetites, alternating field and thermal stabilities of ARM and TRM are fairly similar. However, for ∼0.24 μm magnetite, ARM is both much less intense and less resistant to thermal demagnetization than TRM, reflecting different domain states for the two remanences and resulting in severely non-linear Arai plots for Thellier analysis of ARM.