Magnetic properties of metal-substituted haematite

Mineral and isothermal magnetic properties of Al-, Mn- and Ni-substituted haematites were characterized and their relationships evaluated in order to interpret better the results of magnetic analyses of soils and recent sediments. Aluminium, manganese and nickel haematites generally behaved as single-domain (SD) particles. The influence of incorporated Al on the magnetic behaviour of haematite was consistent with Al acting as a paramagnetic dilutent. Mass magnetic susceptibility ( χ ) and SIRM₈₀₀ decreased as the level of Al substitution increased. Incorporation of Mn and Ni increased χ , which could be associated with enhancement of the spin canting effect of haematite. The stability of SIRM₈₀₀ to demagnetization for Al-haematite appears to be related to a defect mechanism associated with the development of smaller crystallites arising from Al substitution. Magnetic domain rotation or flipping was probably inhibited, being blocked by structural defects during magnetization and demagnetization, and resulted in a low but stable partial SIRM (SIRM₈₀₀ ). %IRM/SIRM₈₀₀ demagnetization curves and estimated ( B _o )_CR values of ≤100  mT for Mn-haematite indicate pseudo-single-domain/multidomain-like behaviour despite Mn-haematite having particle and crystallite dimensions similar to Ni-haematite, which did not show this behaviour. Data indicate that parameters involving unsaturated, partial SIRM should be used with caution in magnetic studies of soils and sediments.     

Magnetic mineralogy of pelagic limestones

Summary. Due to their extremely small size and low concentration, the carriers of magnetization in limestones are usually identified through indirect rock magnetic methods. This paper describes a method for extracting tiny ferromagnetic grains from consolidated calcareous rocks and summarizes a scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigation of magnetic phases from several palaeomagnetically important pelagic limestones. Details of surface characteristics and elemental composition are readily accessible with the SEM and complement normal rock magnetic experiments in giving a more complete assessment of the major ferromagnetic phases, their origin, and the timing and acquisition of magnetization. The results confirm many indications of the indirect methods and introduce several important new features. In addition to detrital titanomagnetite, diagenetic titanohaematite and iron sulphides, there is a significant contribution by authigenic microcrystalline haematite, detrital cosmic spherules, chromian spinels, and skeletal titanomaghaemite.     

Magnetic stratigraphy observed in ferromanganese crust

Summary. A sample of ferromanganese crust deposit (SCHW-1D) was cut into two sets of 1 mm slices for palaeomagnetic study. Alternating field and thermal demagnetization, and isothermal remanent magnetization analyses were performed on each thin slice. The results reveal the presence of a stable magnetism and both normal and reversed polarity intervals in the specimens. The observed polarity intervals cannot be confidently correlated with the geomagnetic polarity time-scale of the last 10 Myr due to the polarity overlap inherent in the sampling technique. But the results confirm the slow accretion rate of ferromanganese deposit determined by ¹⁰Be method and suggest potential use of ferromanganese deposits in palaeomagnetic and tectonic studies.