A theoretical and experimental comparison of the anisotropies of magnetic susceptibility and remanence in rocks and minerals

Summary. Susceptibility, thermo-remanent magnetization (TRM) and isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) anisotropy ellipsoids have been determined for several rock samples. The results indicate that the ellipsoid of initial susceptibility is less anisotropic than the TRM and low field IRM ellipsoids which are found experimentally to be of identical shape. This suggests that palaeomagnetic data for anisotropic rocks may be corrected by using the anisotropy ellipsoid determined from magnetically non-destructive low field IRM measurements. Such IRM measurements can also be used to obtain anisotropy axes of samples which are inherently anisotropic but which have a susceptibility which is too weak to be accurately measured. The results for a series of artificial anisotropic samples containing magnetite particles of different sizes (in the range 0.2–90 μm) were very similar to those for the rocks. In contrast, a comparison of the susceptibility and IRM ellipsoids for anisotropic samples containing particles from a magnetic tape gave very different results in accordance with theory. Such results imply that susceptibility and IRM ellipsoids could be used to determine whether anisotropic rocks contain uniaxial single-domain particles (magnetization confined to the easy axis) or whether the particles are essentially multidomain.     

Redox and nonredox reactions of magnetite and hematite in rocks

Redox and nonredox reactions causing pseudomorphic replacement of hematite by magnetite and magnetite by hematite are compared.Pseudomorphic replacements resulting from redox reactions are known as martitization [replacement of magnetite by hematite due to oxidation; reaction (1)] and mushketovitization [replacement of hematite by magnetite due to reduction; reaction (2)]. These two replacements cause characteristic ore textures and volume changes (reaction (1): increase of 1.66%; reaction (2): decrease of 1.64%). These small volume changes are the reason that martitization and mushketovitization are widespread in many rocks under condition, however, that oxidizing or reducing fluids (solutions) are present.The same initial and end products may also be involved in nonredox reactions. Reaction (3) is the replacement of hematite by magnetite due to simple addition of Fe²⁺ atoms under basic conditions. This reaction causes an increase of the volume of 47.6%. Reaction (4), causing a volume decrease of 32.2%, is the replacement of magnetite by hematite due to leaching of Fe²⁺ atoms under acidic conditions. From these volume changes it is concluded that reaction (4) may occur in many rock types, whereas reaction (3) is restricted to unlithified sediments only. However, ore textures caused by nonredox reactions are unknown and therefore their occurrence in rocks is hypothetical.     

An analysis of medium losses in coal washing plants

A major operating cost in dense-medium separation is in replacement of lost medium solids. The loss of medium solids, being costly, plays a crucial role in determining the economics of any preparation operation. Coal washeries that employ dense-medium cyclones often attempt optimization of the processes by varying the vortex or the spigot diameter and the feed relative density. While these changes help in closer control of the separation process, they also result in medium losses due to changes in the medium split ratio (ratio of the medium flow rate in overflow to underflow). Since medium solids are lost by adhesion to products and as magnetic separator effluent, the effect of the change in medium split ratio on the drain-and-rinse screens and, hence, the magnetic separator circuit needs to be studied. In Tata Steel's coal washeries, at Jharkhand India, which employs primary and secondary dense-medium cyclones in series to produce clean coal, middlings and rejects, reducing the relative density of feed medium, had an insignificant effect on the medium split ratio. On the other hand, changing the cone ratio (ratio of the overflow diameter to the underflow diameter) changed the relative density and the flow rates through the cyclone outlets, thus affecting the performance of the magnetite recovery circuit.A systematic study through laboratory tests and a detailed plant sampling campaign helped in identifying the causes of magnetite loss. Upon implementation of the recommendations, the magnetite losses decreased, resulting in a saving of approximately US$27,500 per annum. The study also helped in evolving some checkpoints for plant operators for identifying magnetite losses.     

西天山敦德铁矿床磁铁矿原位LA-ICP-MS元素分析及意义

敦德铁矿床是天山成矿带内新近发现并勘查的一处大型海相火山岩型铁矿床。该矿床的矿石可划分为浸染状、稠密浸染状、条带状和块状4种主要类型。其中的条带状矿石包括磁铁矿_矽卡岩条带和磁铁矿_方解石条带2种亚类型。块状矿石内出现围岩或矽卡岩角砾时则构成角砾状矿石,其磁铁矿的成因无甚差异。根据野外观察和矿相显微研究,认为磁铁矿形成于早期矽卡岩阶段后的退化蚀变阶段,之后又被更晚的硫化物阶段和绿泥石_碳酸盐阶段的矿物叠加。敦德磁铁矿内主要发生了Al、Mn、Mg和Zn的类质同象置换,此外,也含有Ti、Si、Ca等次要元素以及Na、K、V、Cr、Ni、Co等多种可检测到的微量元素。磁铁矿内元素含量在空间上显示出直观的差异,由深部到浅部,Mn、Zn含量升高,Si、Ca、Na、K、Pb、Ba、Sr、Sb、Cu等含量降低。在Ti O2_Al2O3_Mg O图解、Ti O2_Al2O3_(Mg O+Mn O)图解和Ca+Al+Mn_Ti+V图解上,敦德磁铁矿的分析数据均投影于热液交代(矽卡岩)成因区域。综上认为,该矿床的磁铁矿可能为热液充填交代成因。     

CSAMT法张量与标量测量在已知铁矿区上的对比试验

在安徽省两个已知磁铁矿区上进行了可控源音频大地电磁法(CSAMT)张量测量与标量测量的对比试验,根据已知地质勘探剖面进行了应用效果的对比工作。试验结果表明,在一维层状电性结构条件下,张量测量与标量测量的找矿效果相近;在电性结构复杂情况下,张量测量的找矿效果优于标量测量结果。同时,指出可CSAMT法张量测量工作需进一步探讨和亟待研究的一些问题。     

几内亚共和国Firawaya一带铁矿床地质特征及找矿标志

几内亚拥有丰富的矿产资源,目前宁巴山铁矿和西芒杜铁矿均为世界级铁矿,位于几内亚东南部,品位均达到66%~68%。本文通过对矿区地质特征的研究,确立磁铁矿的找矿标志,对指导本区域BIF型铁矿的地质找矿具有实际意义。     

Germanium in Magnetite: A Preliminary Review

Magnetite is a very common mineral in various types of iron deposits and some sulfide deposits. Recent studies have focused on the use of trace elements in magnetite to discriminate ore types or trace ore-forming process. Germanium is a disperse element in the crust, but sometimes is not rare in magnetite. Germanium in magnetite can be determined by laser ablation ICP-MS due to its low detection limit (0.0X ppm). In this study, we summary the Ge data of magnetite from magmatic deposits, iron formations, skarn deposits, iron oxide copper-gold deposits, and igneous derived hydrothermal deposits. Magnetite from iron formations contains relatively high Ge (up to ~250 ppm), whereas those from all other deposits mostly contains Ge less than 10 ppm, indicating that iron formations can be discriminated from other Fe deposits by Ge contents. Germanium in magmatic/hydrothermal magnetite is controlled by a few factors. Primary magma/fluid composition may be the major control of Ge in magnetite. Higher oxygen fugacity may be beneficial to Ge partition into magnetite. Sulfur fugacity and temperature may have little effect on Ge in magnetite. The enrichment mechanism of Ge in magnetite from iron formations remains unknown due to the complex ore genesis. Germanium along with other elements (Mn, Ni, Ga) and element ratios (Ge/Ga and Ge/Si raios) can distinguish different types of deposits, indicating that Ge can be used as a discriminate factor like Ti and V. Because of the availability of in situ analytical technique like laser ablation ICP-MS, in situ Ge/Si ratio of magnetite can serve as a geochemical tracer and may provide new constraints on the genesis of banded iron formations.     

磁化率各向异性的原理及应用实例

磁化率各向异性(AMS)在地质领域中的应用极为广泛,可以用来研究古流向造成的磁性矿物的定向排列,以及构造应力作用引起的岩石内磁性矿物的定向重结晶、定向排列及韧性变形。本文介绍了AMS的基本原理和参数,并并介绍了前人及作者应用AMS详细分析研究了二个实例:(1)以假多畴(MD)高钛磁铁矿为主要载磁矿物的玄武岩样品的AMS变化及其对构造运动的响应;(2)以MD磁铁矿为主要载磁矿物的湖泊沉积物样品在沉积过程中AMS变化。AMS可以灵敏地检测样品中磁性矿物的定向排列,因此在在地质领域中具有很好的应用前景。     

Geneses of Two Types of Mafic Rocks to Carry Placer‐Magnetite Ores in the Sanin Granitic Belt,SW Japan

Two types of mafic rocks from the central Sanin district, and their mafic minerals, were studied chemically and microscopically. They are classified into pyroxene‐containing gabbroid and hornblende–biotite quartz diorite. The gabbroid had higher color index but lower magnetite content; while the quartz diorite had lower color index, but higher magnetite content. The magnetite contents are also related to the amounts of hydrous mafic silicates. The gabbroic magma having pyroxene–amphibole assemblage, originated in the upper mantle, was considered essentially anhydrous, but became partly hydrous on the way to the site of solidification in the continental crust, and crystallized some magnetites with hypersthene and amphibole. The quartz dioritic magma was formed by partial melting of possibly subducting ocean‐floor basalts, once exposed to the sea‐floor then altered; thus the magmas became hydrous and oxidized originally, and precipitated abundant magnetite and hydrous mafic silicates from the early crystallization stage onward. Their weathered parts provided the most placer magnetite ores in the history.