Magnetic Anisotropy as an Aid to Identifying CRM and DRM in Red Sedimentary Rocks

To further evaluate the potential of magnetic anisotropy techniques for determining the origin of the natural remanent magnetization (NRM) in sedimentary rocks, several new remanence anisotropy measurement techniques were explored. An accurate separation of the remanence anisotropy of magnetite and hematite in the same sedimentary rock sample was the goal.In one technique, Tertiary red and grey sedimentary rock samples from the Orera section (Spain) were exposed to 13 T fields in 9 different orientations. In each orientation, alternating field (af) demagnetization was used to separate the magnetite and hematite contributions of the high field isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM). Tensor subtraction was used to calculate the magnetite and hematite anisotropy tensors. Geologically interpretable fabrics did not result, probably because of the presence of goethite which contributes to the IRM. In the second technique, also applied to samples from Orera, an anisotropy of anhysteretic remanence (AAR) was applied in af fields up to 240 mT to directly measure the fabric of the magnetite in the sample. IRMs applied in 2 T fields followed by 240 mT af demagnetization, and thermal demagnetization at 90°C to remove the goethite contribution, were used to independently measure the hematite fabric in the same samples. This approach gave geologically interpretable results with minimum principal axes perpendicular to bedding, suggesting that the hematite and magnetite grains in the Orera samples both carry a depositional remanent magnetization (DRM). In a third experiment, IRMs applied in 13 T fields were used to measure the magnetic fabric of samples from the Dome de Barrot area (France). These samples had been demonstrated to have hematite as their only magnetic mineral. The fabrics that resulted were geologically interpretable, showing a strong NW-SE horizontal lineation consistent with AMS fabrics measured in the same samples. These fabrics suggest that the rock's remanence may have been affected by strain and could have originated as a DRM or a CRM.Our work shows that it is important to account for the presence of goethite when using high field IRMs to measure the remanence anisotropy of hematite-bearing sedimentary rocks. It also shows that very high magnetic fields (>10 T) may be used to measure the magnetic fabric of sedimentary rocks with highly coercive magnetic minerals without complete demagnetization between each position, provided that the field magnetically saturates the rock.     

一个变泥质岩包体样品的系统热磁试验及其矿物学意义

利用一件采自河北汉诺坝周坝地区变泥质岩包体样品,结合系统的低温和高温磁性测量结果,探讨了应用热磁实验鉴别样品中所含原生磁性矿物的多解性问题. 结果表明, 饱和等温剩余磁化强度（SIRM）在室温～250℃以及280℃～380℃的降低分别由高钛钛磁铁矿的剩磁解阻过程（一种物理过程）以及由磁赤铁矿转换成赤铁矿（一种矿物相变）引起.样品在500℃以后磁化率的升高则是由磁铁矿从钛磁赤铁矿中出溶所致.因此,κ T（即磁化率随温度变化）曲线中呈现约580℃居里点是由加热过程中次生的磁铁矿引起,而并非代表原始（即加热前）样品中的磁铁矿成分.     

Magnetic properties related to thermal treatment of pyrite

Detailed rock magnetic experiments were conducted on high-purity natural crystalline pyrite and its products of thermal treatments in both argon and air atmospheres. In argon atmosphere (reducing environment), the pyrite is altered by heating to magnetite and pyrrhotite; the latter is stable in argon atmosphere, and has coercive force and coercivity of remanence of ～20 and ～30 mT, respectively. Whereas in air, the pyrite is ultimately oxidized to hematite. First order reversal curve (FORC) diagram of the end product shows that the remanence coercivity of hematite is up to ～1400 mT. The corresponding thermal transformation process of pyrite in air can be simply summarized as pyrite→ pyrrhotite→magnetite→hematite. These results are helpful for understanding of sedimentary magnetism, secondary chemical remanence and meteorolite magnetic properties.     

The characteristics,origins, and geodynamic settings of supergiant gold metallogenic provinces

An investigation of the rock magnetic properties using stepwise isothermal remanence (IRM) acquisition, thermomagnetic analysis and temperature-dependent susceptibility history, identifies magnetite as the carrier of the main fraction of the remanence, associated with maghemite and hematite in Malan loess (L1), Holocene soil (S0) and last-glacial paleosol (S1). The presence of short-lived direction fluctuations indicates that no significant smoothing occurs in L1 when its remanence is locked, and thus L1 is capable of recording the geomagnetic secular variation (PSV), while the PSV has been severely smoothed or wiped out by pedogenic processes during S1 formation. It has been suggested that the Mono Lake and Laschamp excursions are two independent geomagnetic events based on this study.     

Palaeomagnetism of silurian lavas of Somerset and Gloucestershire,England

Detailed alternating field demagnetisation of Upper Llandovery volcanics of the Mendip Hills and Gloucestershire has isolated remanence directions interpreted as primary from each of five sites. Well-defined high-coercivity secondary magnetisation is present in six samples of one site and low-coercivity secondary remanence is present in all samples from another site; the former component was apparently acquired in Permo-Triassic times. Primary directions of magnetisation show marked improvement in precision after correction for penecontemporaneous folding, and show a late Llandovery reversal in the sense R → N.The group mean directions of magnetisation isD = 243.5°,I = 47.5° (precision parameterk = 29). Petrographic examination confirms observations from magnetic properties that relict titanomagnetite (oxidation classes 3 to 5) is the remanence carrier in most samples. Hematite, probably mostly late magmatic in origin, is widely developed in all samples, but only the principal remanence carrier where it has thoroughly replaced the titanomagnetite. Low-coercivity remanence is apparently caused by weathering effects but there is no clear visible cause for secondary high-coercivity remanence carried by some samples.The mean virtual geomagnetic pole position is close to Upper Silurian/Lower Devonian pole positions from other parts of Britain and defines a minimum apparent polar shift of 60° between late Ordovician and Upper Llandovery times. Reference to absolute age dates suggests that this shift took place between ca. 447 and 434 m.y. followed by slight polar movement between ca. 434 and 394 m.y.     

Hysteresis effects of varying concentrations of magnetite,hematite, pyrrhotite,and greigite grains in a diamagnetic matrix

Summary The hysteresis properties of synthetic samples with very low contents of hematite, pyrrhotite, greigite and admixtures of magnetite and hematite in a diamagnetic matrix have been studied. The diamagnetic matrix used was sodium chloride (NaCl). The contents of the magnetic minerals varied for hematite from 0.5 to 6 wt%, for pyrrhotite from 0.02 to 0.2 wt% and for greigite from 0.02 to 0.6 wt%. Diamagnetic contributions to the magnetization curves can be distinguished in the measured samples. We observed a non-linear dependence of coercivity and saturation magnetization upon increasing contents of hematite as a result of effects of both the diamagnetic matrix and the hematite content. Only the saturation remanence which is measured in a zero magnetic field has a linear dependence on the hematite concentration. The shape of the hysteresis curves of admixtures of magnetite and hematite are probably caused by magnetostatic interactions.     

Magnetic components contributing to the NRM of Middle Siwalik red beds

The components of the NRM in Middle Siwalik red beds are carried by two phases of hematite, a red pigment phase and a specular hematite phase. We present evidence in the form of a conglomerate test that the specularite phase carries a remanence acquired during or shortly after deposition. The red pigment, however, post-dates deposition, in many cases by at least one reversal boundary. This secondary component has a higher coercivity but a lower blocking temperature in these rocks and can therefore be selectively removed by thermal demagnetization to reveal a primary magnetization useful for magnetostratigraphic studies.     

三门峡盆地晚新生代沉积物磁性载体类型

对三门峡盆地晚新生代沉积岩样品进行岩石磁学研究,通过三轴饱和等温剩磁和剩磁矫顽力实验、交变退磁和热退磁实验及磁化率测定,发现黄土-古土壤、河湖相灰绿层和冲洪积层3种不同岩性的磁载体存在显著差异.即黄土-古土壤以磁铁矿为主,赤铁矿和磁赤铁矿很少;河湖相灰绿色沉积磁性矿物含量较低,主要为赤铁矿和磁铁矿,但磁铁矿较多,此外还有一些不稳定磁性矿物(如针铁矿、菱铁矿等);冲洪积物以磁铁矿和赤铁矿为主,磁铁矿相对较多.     

Imprinting chemical remanent magnetization in claystones at 95 °C

Thermal effects related to burial and hydrothermal alteration leads to chemical remanent magnetization (CRM). We present an experimental study of CRM production by heating claystones at 95 °C. A vertical magnetic field of 2 mT was applied to the claystones during heating and the evolution of the remanence during heating in air is monitored intermittently for up to four months. Solid fragments (9 to 26 g) of claystones are included in a Teflon holder that is placed in the oven under a controlled atmosphere. Newly formed grains acquire a CRM and a thermoviscous magnetization (TVRM), both being parallel to the applied magnetic field. CRM is related to the amount of newly formed grains that pass the critical volume during the reaction. To measure the acquired remanence, the claystones are first cooled in a zero magnetic field and then measured using a 2G SQUID magnetometer.In the frame of the research programme on the feasibility of radioactive waste disposal in a deep geological formation, we investigate the magnetic transformation of Mont Terri Lower Dogger claystones (Switzerland) due to thermal imprinting at 95 °C. We simulate the dehydration that occurs in the walls of galleries after excavation when interstitial water evaporates and rehydration when the galleries are refilled allowing water to move towards dehydrated zones. During dehydration, the remanence gains one order of magnitude at the beginning of the experiment and then it follows a linear rate of 0.23 ± 0.07 mA m^− 1/day between 3 and 14 days. The magnetic susceptibility increases by a few percent. The increase of the remanence and of the magnetic susceptibility stops after 15 days. Mass monitoring indicates that interstitial water evaporates when remanence and magnetic susceptibility stabilizes. During rehydration, the remanence increases again whilst magnetic susceptibility drops by a few percent. After 20 days, the remanence during rehydration follows a rate of 0.42 ± 0.15 mA m^− 1/day. By contrast, when rehydration takes place later, after 66 days, the rate is much lower (0.09 ± 0.04 mA m^− 1/day). Low temperature investigation of magnetic properties indicates an initial magnetic assemblage of magnetite and pyrrhotite. Newly formed magnetite and hematite carry the remanence. We propose that magnetite is formed at the expense of pyrite. Hematite results from the progressive oxidation of newly formed magnetite. Our results suggest the possibility that any claystones that pass the oil window can be remagnetized due to the unique action of temperature.     

Chemical remanent magnetization due to deep-burial diagenesis in oolitic hematite-bearing ironstones of Alabama

Oolitic hematite-bearing ironstones of the Silurian Red Mountain Formation of Alabama are shown to carry a single-component remanence stable enough to have survived major folding (of probable Permian age). Nevertheless, the remanence direction (ten sites yielding a paleopole at 38.0°N, 132.4°E with dm = 3.6°, dp = 1.9°), its reverse polarity and a negative intraformational conglomerate test show that the remanence was very likely acquired during the Pennsylvanian—some 130 Ma after deposition. This remanence is likely a chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) acquired during diagenesis induced by heating due to deep burial under a Pennsylvanian clastic wedge. Two possible mechanisms for acquisition of CRM during deep-burial diagenesis are considered. In hypothesis I, the oolitic hematite transformed from original geothite when heated to about 80°C, acquiring CRM. In hypothesis II, the oolitic hematite originated from ferrihydrite and was too fine-grained to acquire stable CRM until heat raised the solubility of hematite allowing grain growth. Hypothesis I explains the timing of remanence acquisition better, but there is some evidence that oolitic goethites may be stable to considerably more than 80°C. Hypothesis II has some difficulty explaining preliminary paleomagnetic results from oolitic hematite-bearing ironstones of the Silurian Clinton Group, New York State. We prefer hypothesis I but both hypotheses remain plausible. Both hypotheses warn that continental red beds may also acquire CRM during diagenesis induced by deep-burial heating, long after deposition but before folding.     

基于剩磁各向异性方法对华北下三叠统红层磁倾角浅化效应的研究

本文报道利用岩石剩磁组构对华北下三叠统红层进行磁倾角浅化效应的进一步识别与校正研究结果.首先,采用45°等温剩磁各向异性方法,即通过沿与样品原始水平面(即层面)呈45°夹角方向施加磁化场获得等温剩磁,并进行逐步热退磁,获得平行于层面和垂直于层面的等温剩磁分量随外加磁场和热退磁温度的变化趋势,计算获得浅化因子f=0.70...     

Rock-magnetic properties of Neogene sediments, northern flank of Tianshan Mountains

Analyses of rock-magnetic properties of Neogene sediments of the Taxihe section, northern Tianshan Mountains, show that the section can be classified into three categories including lacustrine facies, fluvial facies and alluvial facies, which correspond to the lower, middle and upper of the Taxihe section respectively. The magnetic minerals of the lacustrine facies may be affected by the process of weath- ering, lithogenesis and biolithogenesis besides the source of the sediments. The natural remanence intensities are between 10-3 A/m and 10-2 A/m. The minerals are dominated by magnetite and the high coercive magnetic mineral may be goethite. The magnetic grains are the mixture of PSD SD or SD SP. The natural remanence intensities of the strata of fluvial facies are between 10-2 A/m and 10-1 A/m, about ten times that of the lacustrine facies. The magnetic minerals are mainly magnetite and hematite, and the magnetic grains are mainly PSD. The characteristic remanence (ChRM) carriers are magnetites. In the alluvial facies, the natural remanence intensities are mostly less than 1×10-2 A/m. The magnetic minerals of the series are dominated by magnetite and hematite, almost the same as the fluvial facies. But the difference is that most of the stepwise demagnetization can reveal two components and the ChRM carriers are hematites. The magnetic grains are PSD in terms of the hysteresis parameters.     

Rock magnetic properties and palaeomagnetic results of sediments from a stone implement layer in the Bose Basin,Guangxi

Directional samples were taken to study rock magnetism and palaeomagnetic records from the Dong- sheng profile, which is 5 m thick and on the northwest edge of the Bose Basin. Mineralogy and rock magnetism of typical samples indicate that coarse granular titanomagnetite, and fine-grained hematite, superparamagnetic maghemite formed by pedogenesis are in the sediment, which has undergone many transformative processes during different stages of pedogenesis. Parallel samples were taken for thermal demagnetization (TH) (0 to 680℃) and alternating field (AF) demagnetization (0 to 80 mT) respectively. Experimental results of these two kinds of demagnetization illustrate that there are two or more magnetic components in the samples. Intensity of NRM decreases by almost 60% to 90% rapidly when the temperature ranges from 100℃ to 350℃, with a steady magnetic component. It is impossible to analyze the magnetic components at high temperature because those fluctuate widely when the temperature is higher than 400℃. Steady magnetic components from 100℃ to 350℃ indicate that the remanence was mainly carried by fine-grained hematite formed by pedogenesis, reflecting a change in the geomagnetic field while the magnetite was being oxidized into hematite by chemical weathering after deposition. The formative age of the sediments cannot be obtained by magnetic methods in this profile.     

Deformation and paleomagnetism

We may use tectonic structures to confirm the primary age of a paleomagnetic remanence component but only if we know how to undo the natural strain history. It is normally insufficient to untilt fold limbs, as in the original version of Graham's Fold Test. One may need to remove also the bulk or local strain and account for strain heterogeneities, achieved by grain-strain and the more elusive intergranular flow. Most important, one must know the sequence of strains and tilts that occurred through geological history because the order of these noncommutative events critically affects the final orientation of the remanence component.In many non-metamorphic rocks, strain-rotation of a remanence component approximates a simple formula, although the actual rotation mechanism is complex. This simple, passive line approximation is confirmed experimentally for strains up to 45% oblate shortening. The passive line hypothesis has permitted successful paleomagnetic restorations in several natural case studies.Experimental deformation of samples with multicomponent remanences shows that differential stresses above a threshold value near 25 MPa selectively remove components with coercivities <25mT, due to domain wall rearrangements in large multidomain magnetite grains. Higher coercivity components are less reduced so that the net remanence vector spins always toward the high-coercivity component, at rates and along paths not predicted by any structural geological formula. Experimentally deformed samples with very fine hematite in the matrix showed their net remanence spinning away from the high coercivity component. This is due to easier mechanical disorientation of the very fine hematite grains, scattering their magnetic moments more and reducing their contribution to the overall remanence. Thus, muticomponent remanences have their components selected for survival based on rock-magnetic and microstructural criteria. Such stress-rotation by coercivity selection does not depend on the orientations of the principal stresses or strains, a concept that is counterintuitive to conventional structural geology.Syn-tectonic remagnetization is common in deformed sedimentary sequences and laboratory experiments reveal that a only moderate differential stress remagnetization is required to add components parallel to the ambient field, without significant strain. Alternating field demagnetization isolates components smeared along the great circle between the initial remanence direction and the remagnetizing field direction. In this case, the principal directions of the stress and finite strain tensors are irrelevant; remagnetization is triggered by a threshold differential stress. The final remanence direction is controlled by the ambient field direction and the remagnetization path lies along a great circle between the ambient field and the initial remanence direction.     

Detrital and pedogenic magnetic mineral phases in the loess/palaeosol sequence at Lingtai (Central Chinese Loess Plateau)

A detailed rock magnetic investigation of loess/palaeosol samples from the section at Lingtai on the central Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) is presented. Thermal demagnetisation of isothermal remanent magnetisation (IRM) and Curie temperature measurements suggest the presence of magnetite, maghemite and hematite as remanence carrying components. Bulk and grain size fractionated samples have been analysed using coercivity spectra of remanence acquisition/demagnetisation curves, which identify four main remanence carriers in different grain size fractions of loesses and palaeosols. A linear source mixing model quantifies the contribution of the four components which have been experimentally derived as dominating endmembers in specific grain size fractions. Up to two thirds of the total IRM of the palaeosols are due to slightly oxidised pedogenic magnetite. Two detrital components dominate up to 90% of the IRM of the loess samples and are ascribed to maghemite of different oxidation degree. Detrital hematite is present in all samples and contributes up to 10% of the IRM. The iron content of the grain size fractions gives evidence that iron in pedogenically grown remanence carriers does not originate from the detrital iron oxides, but rather from iron-bearing clays and mafic silicates. The contribution of pedogenic magnetite to the bulk IRM increases with the increasing degree of pedogenesis, which depends in turn on climate change.     

Post-depositional remanent magnetisation in Recent tidal-flat sediments

Palaeomagnetic measurements of 1-m cores and a 9-m Delft core of Recent tidal-flat sediments from the Wash, England have shown that these sediments possess a record of the variation of the Earth's magnetic field. The record compares well with the historic-archaeomagnetic record for the period 0–1000 years B.P. but is offset down the core due to the remanence being of post-depositional origin. A period of at least 100 years is suggested for the alignment of particles during acquisition of the post-depositional remanence. Magnetite has been identified as the major carrier of this remanence.     

The magnetic anisotropy of the Yampi Sound hematite ores

Summary The magnetic fabric of the Yampi Sound hematite ore bodies of Cockatoo and Koolan Island in Western Australia has been determined with a low field torque meter in an attempt to investigate the origin of the ores. The ore bodies are conformable with a ferruginous sedimentary sequence, which has been folded into overturned synclines and anticlines. Each ore body shows a consistent distribution of the principal susceptibility axes due to a preferred alignment of the trigonal axes of hematite, but the magnetic fabric is not related to the sedimentary structure of the ores. For the Cockatoo Island ore body the magnetic fabric indicates the presence of an axial plane foliation within the ore, suggesting that the preferred crystalline alignment is caused by arecrystallization of hematite during the folding of the sediments. The magnetic fabric of the ore bodies on Koolan Island is not related to either bedding or axial planes. This can be explained by assuming that the hematite recrystallized during an earlier stage of the folding process and that then the limbs of the fold were rotated into their present position. High field torque measurements on several ore specimens indicate a preferred crystalline alignment of hematite of about 25%. The ferruginous sediments of Cockatoo Island show a composite fabric caused by the superposition of two foliations, one being the bedding plane and the other the axial plane foliation impressed during the folding of the sediments.     

A paleomagnetic reinvestigation of the Upper Devonian Perry Formation: evidence for Late Paleozoic remagnetization

In view of the recent recognition of widespread Late Paleozoic remagnetization of Devonian formations across North America, we undertook a reinvestigation of the Upper Devonian Perry Formation of coastal Maine and adjacent New Brunswick. Thermal demagnetization of samples from the redbeds yielded a characteristic direction (D = 166°, I = 4°) that fails a fold test. Comparison of the corresponding paleopole (312°E, 41°S) with previously published Paleozoic poles for North America suggests that the sediments were remagnetized in the Late Carboniferous. After the removal of a steep, northerly component, the volcanics also reveal a shallow and southerly direction ( D = 171°, I = 25° without tilt correction). No stability test is available to date the magnetization of the volcanics; however, similarity of several of the directions to those seen in the sediments raises the suspicion that the volcanics are also remagnetized. Although the paleopole without tilt correction (303°E, 32°S) could be taken to indicate an early Carboniferous age for the remagnetization, scatter in the data suggests that the directions are contaminated by the incomplete removal of a steeper component due to present-day field. Thus, it is more likely that the volcanics were remagnetized at the same time as the sediments. Isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) acquisition curves, blocking temperatures, coercivities and reflected light microscopy indicate that the magnetization is carried by hematite in the sediments and by both magnetite and hematite in the volcanics. It is therefore likely that the remagnetization of the Perry Formation involved both thermal and chemical processes related to the Variscan/Alleghenian orogeny. Our results indicate that previously published directions for the Perry Formation were based on the incomplete resolution of two magnetic components. These earlier results can no longer be considered as representative of the Devonian geomagnetic field.     

Grain size dependent potential for self generation of magnetic anomalies on Mars via thermoremanent magnetic acquisition and magnetic interaction of hematite and magnetite

Early in the history of planetary evolution portions of Martian crust became magnetized by dynamo-generated magnetic field. A lateral distribution of the secondary magnetic field generated by crustal remanent sources containing magnetic carriers of certain grain size and mineralogy is able to produce an ambient magnetic field of larger intensity than preexisting dynamo. This ambient field is capable of magnetizing portions of deeper crust that cools through its blocking temperatures in an absence of dynamo. We consider both magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) as minerals contributing to the overall magnetization. Analysis of magnetization of magnetic minerals of various grain size and concentration reveals that magnetite grains less than 0.01 mm in size, and hematite grains larger than 0.01 mm in size can become effective magnetic source capable of magnetizing magnetic minerals contained in surrounding volume. Preexisting crustal remanence (for example ∼250 A/m relates to 25% of multi-domain hematite) can trigger a self-magnetizing process that can continue in the absence of magnetic dynamo and continue strengthening and/or weakening magnetic anomalies on Mars. Thickness of the primary magnetic layer and concentration of magnetic carriers allow specification of the temperature gradient required to trigger a self-magnetization process.     

Magnetic,paleomagnetic and palynologic studies of Paleolithic depositions of the Akhshtyrskaya cave (Russia)

The paper presents the results of experimental rock-magnetic, paleomagnetic and palynologic study of Paleolithic sediments sampled along two profiles in the Akhshtyrskaya cave, situated in the vicinity of Black Sea shore. In the upper part of profiles, some magnetite was observed; in the middle and lower parts, strongly oxidized non-stoichiometric magnetite and hematite prevail. Thin maghemite covers on the surface of fine magnetite grains are present in the majority of specimens. Natural remanence has one characteristic component (CHRM), mostly of chemical origin, although in few specimens containing magnetite it may be sedimentary. Directions of CHRM obtained by standard paleomagnetic methods revealed anomalous pattern only in layer 3/2, which is slightly older than the overlying layer 3/1 whose age was established as (35±2)×10³ years BP by the U-Th method. This suggests that this paleomagnetic anomaly (PMA) can be correlated with Kargapolovo excursion dated on about (45−39)×10³ years BP. In the remaining overlying and underlying layers, directions of CHRM are grouped around the present geomagnetic field. Depth distributions of scalar magnetic parameters generally coincide with the lithological division of the profiles. Palynologic study revealed the presence of 22 pollen zones. Five thermomers separated with colder periods were found in the middle and lower parts of profile. The non-magnetite composition of magnetic fraction of the majority of studied sediments — oxidized nonstoichiometric magnetite and hematite — resulted in the lack of correlations between paleoclimatic and scalar magnetic characteristics.