Low-field variation of magnetic susceptibility measured by the KLY-4S Kappabridge and KLF-4A magnetic susceptibility meter: Accuracy and interpretational programme

The KLY-4S Kappabridge and KLF-4A Magnetic Susceptibility Meter enable automated measurement of susceptibility variation with field in the ranges of 2–450 A/m and 5–300 A/m (in effective values), respectively. Unfortunately, the measurement accuracy decreases with decreasing field and it is not easy to decide whether the susceptibility variation at the lowest fields is natural phenomenon or results from measuring errors. To overcome this problem, the accuracies of both the above instruments were investigated experimentally using artificial specimens (mixture of pure magnetite and plaster of Paris) with variable susceptibilities ranging from 1 × 10⁻⁵ to 5 × 10⁻². The complete curve of the field variation of susceptibility of each specimen was measured 10 times and the relative error was calculated for each field. In the KLY-4S Kappabridge, in specimens with susceptibilities higher than 100 × 10⁻⁶, the relative errors are lower than 3% in all fields and lower than 1% in the fields stronger than 10 A/m. In the KLF-4A Magnetic Susceptibility Meter, in relatively strongly magnetic specimens with susceptibilities 5 × 10⁻⁴ to 5 × 10⁻², the relative error is less than 1.5% in the entire field range. While the former instrument is convenient for investigating almost all rock types, the latter instrument is convenient for measuring moderately and strongly magnetic specimens. To facilitate work with field variation of susceptibility curves, showing variable accuracies with field, the programme FieldVar was written. One of its options is plotting the measured data with corresponding field-variable error bars. In this way, a tool is offered for interpreting such susceptibility changes that are sound and reasonable from the point of view of measuring accuracy.     

A portable instrument for the measurement of point-discharge currents in the atmosphere using junction FET's

A contiuous recording instrument with field effect transistors has been developed to study the point discharge currents in the atmosphere. The chief advantages of the present instrument are that it is portable and has a range of measurement from 10^–9 A to 10^–7 A for positive currents and 10^–9 A to 10^–5 A for negative currents on a linear scale.     

A combined rock magnetic and geochemical investigation of Upper Cretaceous volcanic rocks in the Pontides,Turkey

Upper Cretaceous volcanic rocks were collected at 24 sites along the Pontides, N-NE Turkey, for rock magnetic and geochemical studies. Rock magnetic and petrographic methods showed that the lavas are characterized predominantly by titanomagnetites with a mixture of pseudo-single and multi-domain grains, whereas in tephrite single domain titanohematite was dominant. Measurements of magnetic susceptibility and the geochemical properties on different volcanic rock types provide important knowledge about the magnetic stability of the rocks. The magnetic properties are interpreted in terms of the composition, concentration, magma generation. Tephrite and phonotephrites with the highest intensities (5200 mA/m) and high magnetic susceptibility values (2585 × 10⁻⁵), largest grain sizes and Fe/Ti values, showing minor or no alteration are the most magnetic stable samples in contrast to dacites with the lowest intensity-magnetic susceptibility (520 mA/m − 573 × 10⁻⁵) and high alteration degree. The basanite samples show very low NRM (48–165 mA/m) but very high magnetic susceptibility (2906–3100 × 10⁻⁵) values suggesting the alteration of Fe-Ti minerals. It is shown that the magnetic properties of the basic to acidic rocks show a systematic variation with magma differentiation and could be related to fractional crystallization. Major and trace elements revealed that the lavas are compatible with complex magma evolution, with mineral phases of olivine+magnetite+clinopyroxene in basic series, amphibole+ +clinopyroxene in intermediate rocks and plagioclase+clinopyroxene+biotite in acidic series.     

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.     

Rock-magnetic proxies of climate change from loess -paleosol sediments of the Czech Republic

Summary Rock-magnetic characteristics of late Pleistocene loess-paleosol sequences in the Czech Republic show patterns of variation that reflect climate-related depositional and diagenetic processes which acted on the sedimentary profiles. Mass-normalized magnetic susceptibility is high in interglacial and interstadial paleosols, while uniformly low values are measured in unweathered loess horizons. Normalized ferrimagnetic susceptibility and anhysteretic remanent magnetization show an enhancement of ultrafine (superparamagnetic, SP) and fine (single-domain, SD, and pseudo-single-domain, PSD) grains in chernozem paleosols correlated with δ¹⁸O substages 5c and 5a as well as in the Holocene soil. The parabraunerde paleosol associated with peak interglacial conditions, correlated with δ¹⁸O substage 5e, shows evidence of diagenetic loss of fine grained magnetic minerals, although coarse (multidomain, MD) grains appear to be preserved. Low temperature remanence behavior plus high temperature susceptibility measurements of representative samples from each lithologic unit indicate that magnetite and maghemite are the dominant magnetic minerals within the sediments. Variations in concentration-independent rock-magnetic parameters are therefore primarily a function of grain size variations through the profile. It is anticipated that with additional magnetic and non-magnetic sedimentological and geochemical tests, a quantitative rock-magnetic — paleoclimate model can be developed for the central European loess region.     

Strongly magnetic soil developed on a non-magnetic rock basement: A case study from NW Bulgaria

The enhanced magnetic susceptibility of modern soils is assumed to have several reasons including, e.g., weathering of an iron-rich geological basement, natural fires, bacterial processes and atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic particles. We report on a case where none of the above sources of magnetic enhancement is evident: a modern soil with high magnetic susceptibility over the whole soil profile, developed on nonmagnetic limestones, in an area with no industrial activities. The surface magnetic susceptibility varies from 60 to 110×10⁻⁵ SI, while that of the rock basement is nearly zero. Moreover, significant frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility (> 12%) suggests that superparamagnetic secondary magnetite/maghemite plays an important role. Possible mechanisms, responsible for this magnetic enhancement, are discussed.     

A crystal pyrradiometer

Summary A pyrradiometer, which is a single sided instrument for measuring both long and short wavelength radiation, has been developed. The instrument is protected from the wind by polythene hemispheres, and usesY-cut quartz crystals as temperature sensors. The output is in terms of frequency, the sensitivity being 13.1 Hertz (mW)^–1 cm^–2.     

Vehicle-derived emissions and pollution on the road autovia 2 investigated by rock-magnetic parameters: A case study from Argentina

In this work, we carried out a preliminary study of traffic-derived pollutants from primary sources (vehicles), and on roads (paved area), road borders and surroundings areas. The study is focussed on the identification, distribution and concentration of pollutants and magnetic carriers. Magnetic parameters and their analyses suggest that the magnetic signal of vehicle-derived emissions is controlled by a magnetite-like phase. Magnetic grain size estimations reveal the presence of fine particles (0.1–5 μm) that can be inhaled and therefore are dangerous to human health. Magnetic susceptibility results (about 175 × 10⁻⁵ SI) show a higher magnetic concentration — magnetic enhancement — in the central area of the tollbooth line that is related to higher traffic. In addition, magnetic susceptibility was computed on several roadside soils along a length of 120 km and used to generate a 2-D contour map, which shows higher magnetic values (100–200 10⁻⁵ SI) near the edge of the road. The observed distribution of magnetic values indicates that magnetic particles emitted by vehicles are accumulated and mainly concentrated within a distance of several meters (1–2 m) from the edge of the road. In consequence, the magnetic susceptibility parameter seems to be a suitable indicator of traffic-related pollution. Non-magnetic studies show an enrichment of some trace elements, such as Ba, Cr, Cu, Zn and Pb, that are associated with traffic pollution. Furthermore, statistical correlations between the content of toxic trace metals and magnetic variables support the use of magnetic parameters as potential proxies for traffic-related pollution in this study area.     

Magnetic survey of topsoils in Windsor–Essex County, Canada

Windsor–Essex County is a major cross-border truck and transportation route, with significant localized industrialization as well as rural and farming areas. Magnetic property measurements (in-field and laboratory susceptibility, frequency-dependent susceptibility, hysteresis properties, thermomagnetic and thermosusceptibility curves, anhysteretic and isothermal magnetizations) were made in order to determine the potential for using such variables to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic pollutants. In-field magnetic susceptibility measured on 324 soil sampling sites on a 0.5–2 km grid spacing through Windsor–Essex County ranged from 3.7 × 10^− 6 to 305.2 × 10^− 6 SI (average 36.2 ± 35.8 × 10^− 6 SI), and showed that high magnetic susceptibility values were obtained on soil sampling sites in and around the cities/towns of Windsor, Harrow, Olinda and Oakland and near the beaches of Point Pelee National Park (PPNP) and Deerbrook, whereas lower susceptibility values were observed in near the towns of Lakeshore and Essex. On this grid spacing, Highway 401 (the major truck route) did not show anomalous susceptibility values; however, closer (1–3 m) sampling on other roads did show anomalously high values, suggesting that the coarser grid spacing may have missed anomalies. Laboratory measurements indicated that the dominant magnetic mineral in the Windsor–Essex County soils is magnetite; however, the grain size is variable. Pseudo-single domain (PSD)–multidomain (MD) magnetite is generally found on beaches and in PPNP, whereas single domain (SD)–PSD magnetite has been found near the City of Windsor and other towns. While certain correlations exist between some anthropogenic activities and the measured magnetic susceptibility and magnetic property values, no overall correlation can be made. A variety of geologic and anthropogenic factors must be considered when interpreting the origin of the magnetic signal in a particular area.     

Rocket observation of atomic oxygen and night airglow: Measurement of concentration with an improved resonance fluorescence technique

An improved resonant fluorescence instrument for measuring atomic oxygen concentration was developed to avoid the Doppler effect and the aerodynamic shock effect due to the supersonic motion of a rocket. The shock effect is reduced by adopting a sharp wedge-shaped housing and by scanning of the detector field of view to change the distance between the scattering volume and the surface of the housing. The scanning enables us to determine absolute values of atomic oxygen concentration from relative variation of the scattered light signal due to the self-absorption. The instrument was calibrated in the laboratory, and the numerical simulation reproduced the calibration result. Using the instrument, the altitude profile of atomic oxygen concentration was observed by a rocket experiment at Uchinoura (31°N) on 28 January 1992. The data obtained from the rocket experiment were not perfectly free from the shock effect, but errors due to the effect were reduced by the data analysis procedure. The observed maximum concentration was 3.8× 10¹¹ cm⁻³ at altitudes around 94 km. The systematic error is estimated to be less than ±0.7×10¹¹ cm⁻³ and the relative random error is less than±0.07× 10¹¹ cm⁻³at the same altitudes. The altitude profile of the OI 557.7-nm airglow was also observed in the same rocket experiment. The maximum volume emission rate was found to be 150 photons cm⁻³ s⁻¹ at 94 km. The observed altitude profiles are compared with the MSIS model and other in situ observations.     

Magnetic study of the dolerite dyke near Amarpur,Dhanbad (Bihar)

Summary The dolerite dyke of post-lower Gondwana age reported earlier by the authors [5]²) has been taken for detailed magnetic study. Seven magnetic traverses have been taken across the dyke using Schmidt vertical force variometer. Negative anomalies varying from 1400 to 2200 gammas have been observed. Magnetic susceptibility of samples from the dyke has been determined on both cores and crushed material, using the Model MS-3 susceptibility bridge. The average susceptibility of 20 samples has been found to be 1930x10^–6 C.G.S. units. Direction and intensity of remanence on 10 oriented samples have been determined by an Astatic magnetometer. The average intensity of remanence has been found to be 3.13x10^–3 C.G.S. units and the average direction has a declination of 323° and inclination-68° (up dip). The Koenigsberger ratio varies from 1.6 to 5.6. The high negative magnetic anomalies have been explained in terms of remance-that more than 80% of the anomaly is due to remance and that negative anomalies are due to negative inclination of remanent direction of the rocks. The magnetic direction for the dyke gave the position for Dhanbad as 51° south latitude in Jurassic period. This is in conformity with the deductions made by other workers from the palaeomagnetic studies of the Deccan and Rajmahal traps. The virtual geomagnetic pole in Jurassic period as deduced from the palaeomagnetism of the dyke has a position of latitude 8 1/2°N and longitude 71°W, in the southern Carribean. On palaeomagnetic evidence this dyke has been correlated with Rajmahal traps of eastern Bihar.     

A high-resolution magnetic susceptibility study of a loess/palaeosol couplet at Baoji,China

Summary Magnetic susceptibility, and its frequency dependence, are reported for 288 individual samples spanning the 8.3 m — thick S3 palaeosol/L4 loess couplet at an important site in the Chinese Loess Plateau. The resulting profile demonstrates that there is a very close link between magnetic properties and soil development: soil and loess sub-divisions recognised visually in the field are clearly reflected in both the bulk susceptibility data and in its frequency dependence. As found at all Chinese sites, the distribution of susceptibilities is bi-modal, one peak representing loess (median=0.74×10⁻⁶m³/kg), the other representing palaeosol (median=2.99×10⁻⁶m³/kg). This is the basis of the climatic proxy information. The Baoji section is the site of one of the most detailed grain-size analyses available anywhere (Ding et al., 1994), and we find a strong correlation between the resulting profile and the susceptibility data reported here. Frequency-dependence of susceptibility exhibits slight differences between the loess and palaeosol populations which we interpret as reflecting reduced transport distances during glacial intervals when the Siberian High causes stronger winds and expands southwards.     

Inflation along Kilauea's Southwest Rift Zone in 2006

We report on InSAR and GPS results showing the first crustal inflation along the southwest rift zone at Kilauea volcano in over 20 years. Two independent interferograms (May 2–August 2, 2006 and June 22–Nov 7, 2006) from the ALOS PALSAR instrument reveal domal uplift located southwest of the main caldera. The uplift is bounded on the northeast by the caldera and follows the southwest rift zone for about 12 km. It is approximately 8 km wide. We use data derived from permanent GPS stations to calibrate the InSAR displacement data and estimate uplift of 7.7 cm during the first interferogram and 8.9 cm during the second with line-of-sight volumes of 2.8 × 10⁶ m³ and 3.0 × 10⁶ m³ respectively. The earthquake record for the periods before, during, and after inflation shows that a swarm of shallow earthquakes (z < 5 km) signaled the beginning of the uplift and that elevated levels of shallow seismicity along the rift zones occurred throughout the uplift period. GPS data indicate that the inflation occurred steadily over nine months between mid-January and mid-October, 2006 making injection of a sill unlikely. We attribute the inflation to recharge of a shallow ductile area under the SWRZ.     

Comparative study of top soil magnetic susceptibility variation based on some human activities

An investigation of the effect of some human activities on the magnetic susceptibility and frequency dependent susceptibility was conducted on top soil samples from, a commercial area, a motor park and a school environment in Jalingo, Taraba State, N-E Nigeria. The purpose was to assess the variation of magnetic susceptibility with different land use, detect pollution hotspots using magnetic proxy parameters and evaluate the contribution of superparamagnetic (SP) grain size contribution to the magnetic susceptibility from calculation of the frequency dependence of magnetic susceptibility (MS). The results of the mass specific low frequency magnetic susceptibility measurements showed significant enhancement with values ranging from 67.8 − 495.3 × 10⁻⁸ m³kg⁻¹ with a mean value of 191.61 × 10⁻⁸ × m³kg⁻¹ for the Jalingo College of Education (JCOE) data; 520.1 − 1612.8 × 10⁻⁸ m³kg⁻¹ with a mean value of 901.34 × 10⁻⁸ m³kg⁻¹ for the Jalingo main Market (JMM) and 188.5 − 1203.6 × 10⁻⁸m³kg⁻¹ with an average value of 574 92 × 10⁻⁶ m³kg⁻¹ for the Jalingo Motor Park (JMP). The significant magnetic enhancement indicates high concentration of ferrimagnetic minerals in the soil and hence increased pollution. The magnetic susceptibility of the different land use studied decreased in the order commercial area (market) > motor park > school premises. The results of the percentage frequency dependence susceptibility showed that most of the samples had a mixture of SP and coarse multi domain grains or SP grains < 0.05 µm. The value of χ_fd% range from 2.68 to 13.80% with an average value of 8.67% in the JCOE samples, 0.49 to 10.04% with an a-verage of 5.05% in the JMM samples and 0.56 to 13.04% with an average value of 5.86% in the JMP samples.     

Magnetic survey of topsoils in Windsor–Essex County,Canada

Windsor–Essex County is a major cross-border truck and transportation route, with significant localized industrialization as well as rural and farming areas. Magnetic property measurements (in-field and laboratory susceptibility, frequency-dependent susceptibility, hysteresis properties, thermomagnetic and thermosusceptibility curves, anhysteretic and isothermal magnetizations) were made in order to determine the potential for using such variables to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic pollutants. In-field magnetic susceptibility measured on 324 soil sampling sites on a 0.5–2 km grid spacing through Windsor–Essex County ranged from 3.7 × 10^− 6 to 305.2 × 10^− 6 SI (average 36.2 ± 35.8 × 10^− 6 SI), and showed that high magnetic susceptibility values were obtained on soil sampling sites in and around the cities/towns of Windsor, Harrow, Olinda and Oakland and near the beaches of Point Pelee National Park (PPNP) and Deerbrook, whereas lower susceptibility values were observed in near the towns of Lakeshore and Essex. On this grid spacing, Highway 401 (the major truck route) did not show anomalous susceptibility values; however, closer (1–3 m) sampling on other roads did show anomalously high values, suggesting that the coarser grid spacing may have missed anomalies. Laboratory measurements indicated that the dominant magnetic mineral in the Windsor–Essex County soils is magnetite; however, the grain size is variable. Pseudo-single domain (PSD)–multidomain (MD) magnetite is generally found on beaches and in PPNP, whereas single domain (SD)–PSD magnetite has been found near the City of Windsor and other towns. While certain correlations exist between some anthropogenic activities and the measured magnetic susceptibility and magnetic property values, no overall correlation can be made. A variety of geologic and anthropogenic factors must be considered when interpreting the origin of the magnetic signal in a particular area.     

Small variation of annual temperature in deep tunnel can produce annual variation in tilt and strain

In this paper,finite element method (FEM) of axisymmetric linear elastic model has been used to calculate the tilt and strain induced by small annual temperature variations in a deep tunnel. The results show that even if the am-plitude of the annual variation meets the construction standard of seismic station issued by China Earthquake Ad-ministration (the annual temperature variation amplitude in the tunnel is no more than 0.5 °C),a small annual tem-perature variation of amplitude just 0.2 °C in the tunnel would produce 10?7 rad changes in tilt and 10?7 changes in strain. Especially,at the end and the corner of the tunnel,changes of tilt and strain can be even larger. Therefore,in the future,it is an important task to reduce the annual temperature variation in the tunnel as far as possible. Within the tunnel,for both baseline instrument and pendulum instrument,the modeling suggests ways of construction of the tunnel and installation of the instrument to decrease the influence of the annual temperature variation.     

LABORATORY INSTRUMENTATION TO STUDY CHANGES OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF ROCKS WITH CHANGES OF FREQUENCY,TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE*

A laboratory instrument was developed to investigate the electrical properties of rock samples with respect to changes of frequency, temperature and pressure. The instrument can be used to obtain general trends and typical values for geological media. It should be of particular interest in geothermal studies and research in the geophysical properties of rocks. The design intervals for quantities under investigation were 20–300°C, 10⁵-4 × 10⁷ Pa and 5 × 10^?4-10³ Hz. Certain limitations exist on the simultaneous use of the highest values of temperature and pressure. The main features of the instrument are: analog electrical outputs recorded by an x-y recorder or observed on a scope with an attached camera (according to the frequency range); pressures produced by an oil hydraulic system in order to ensure electrical insulation of the sample; temperatures obtained by placing the pressure vessel into a thermostatically controlled room. Thus the monitoring instrumentation is directly accessible during the experiment. Information is also given about calibration procedures and examples of rock sample data are given.     

AFORS autonomous fibre-optic rotational seismograph: Design and application

We outline the research leading to development of the Autonomous Fibre-Optic Rotational Seismograph (AFORS) and describe the final version of the instrument. The instrument with linear changes of sensitivity keeps accuracy from 5.1 × 10⁻⁹ to 5.5 × 10⁻⁸ rad/s in the detection bandpass 1.66–212.30 Hz; it is designed for a direct measurement of rotational components emitted during seismic events. The presented system is based on the optical part of the fibre optic gyro construction where a special autonomous signal processing unit (ASPU) optimizes its operation for the measurement of rotation motions instead of the angular changes. The application of a newly designed telemetric system based on the Internet allows for a remote system control, as shown in an example of the system’s operation in Książ (Poland) seismological observatory.     

Sources of magnetic susceptibility in a slate

Magnetic susceptibility and its anisotropy in the Borrowdale Volcanic slates at Kentmere in the English Lake District are attributed largely to preferred orientation of a paramagnetic chlorite of diabantite-ripidolite composition. In units of 10⁻⁶ cgs/g, the principal susceptibilities for the slates are 9.61; 9.42; 8.69 and for the chlorite grains the minimum anisotropy is represented by principal susceptibilities of 11.57; 11.22 and 9.15. Because the magnetic susceptibility is carried by a tightly packed, matrix-forming mineral that has recrystallised during the deformation it is not possible to imagine simple grain rotation as being responsible for the anisotropy of susceptibility.     

A portable instrument for the measurement of salinity of rainwater using FET's

A portable salinity meter with field effect transistors for the continuous recording of salinity of rainwater is described. The variations in salinity are converted into current variations by using a D.C. differential amplifier and is recorded on an Esterline Angus Recorder. The Meter enables us to measure rainfall intensity as well as salinity simultaneously. The chief advantages of the present instrument are that it is portable and has a range of measurement from 1×10^–4 to 1×10^–1 ppm on a linear scale.