Low-Temperature and Alternating-Field Demagnetization of Saturation Remanence and Thermoremanence in Magnetite Grains (0.037 Mu-M to 5 Mm)

Low-temperature demagnetization (LTD), consisting of zero-field cycling from room temperature to 77 K and back to room temperature, was performed on magnetites from different sources having grain sizes between 0.037-mu-m and 5 mm. The memory fractions, R(I) and R(T) of saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM(s)) and 0.1 mT thermoremanent magnetization (TRM), respectively, have a strong intrinsic grain-size dependence below almost-equal-to 10-mu-m, but are almost size independent in the multidomain (MD) range above 10-mu-m. The size dependence of R(I) and R(T) in the MD range reported by Parry [1979, 19801 probably results from stress introduced during crushing to obtain finer size fractions. We demonstrate that the method of preparation of magnetites, irregularities in the crystals, and increase or decrease of the state of internal stress by quenching or annealing all have a direct effect on the amount of magnetic memory. Magnetic memories (the fractions of TRM and IRM, surviving after LTD) are much more resistant against alternating-field (AF) demagnetization than the original TRM and IRM(s) before LTD. Even large magnetite crystals (> > 20-mu-m) reveal a hard, single-domain-like component of magnetization when the softer magnetization is removed by LTD. A comparison of AF demagnetization properties of IRM(s) and TRM in these MD magnetites shows that the Lowrie and Fuller [1971] test must be reinterpreted.

@article{id242,
  author = {Heider, F. and Dunlop, D.J. and Soffel, H.C. and },
  journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth},
  language = {en},
  number = {B6},
  pages = {9371-9381},
  title = {Low-Temperature and Alternating-Field Demagnetization of Saturation Remanence and Thermoremanence in Magnetite Grains (0.037 Mu-M to 5 Mm)},
  volume = {97},
  year = {1992},
}

%O Journal Article
%A Heider, F.
%A Dunlop, D.J.
%A Soffel, H.C.
%A 
%J Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth
%G en
%N B6
%P 9371-9381
%T Low-Temperature and Alternating-Field Demagnetization of Saturation Remanence and Thermoremanence in Magnetite Grains (0.037 Mu-M to 5 Mm)
%V 97
%D 1992