Effects of a uniaxial compression on remanent magnetizations of igneous rocks

Summary Characteristics of remanent magnetization of an igneous rock under a uniaxial compression are divided into those of the soft component and those of the hard component. The soft component of remanent magnetization irreversibly decreases with an increase of compression () regardless whether the axis of is parallel or parpendicular to the direction of magnetization. The hard component changes reversibly with : the magnetic intensity of hard component increases with when the axis of is perpendicular to the magnetization, whereas it decreases with when the axis of is parallel to the magnetization.Theoretically, the irreversible change of the soft component is attributable to the irreversible movement of 90° domain walls which results in the pressure demagnetization effect, while the reversible change of the hard component is due to the reversible rotation of spontaneous magnetization within those domains which are so tightly fixed by large effective anisotropy energy that the induced magnetoelastic energy cannot drive their 90° walls.In natural remanent magnetization of igneous rocks, the soft component corresponds to either one or all of isothermal remanent magnetization, viscous remanent magnetization and piezo-remanent magnetization, whereas the hard component is mostly due to thermo-remanent magnetization.