Low-temperature magnetic properties of greigite (Fe3S 4)

Abstract

We provide comprehensive low-temperature magnetic results for greigite (Fe3S4) across the spectrum from superparamagnetic (SP) to multidomain (MD) behavior. It is well known that greigite has no lowtemperature magnetic transitions, but we also document that it has strong domain-state dependence of magnetic properties at low temperatures. Blocking of SP grains and increasing thermal stability with decreasing temperature is apparent in many magnetic measurements. Thermally stable single-domain greigite undergoes little change in magnetic properties below room temperature. For pseudo-single-domain (PSD)/MD greigite, hysteresis properties and first-order reversal curve diagrams exhibit minor changes at low temperatures, while remanence continuously demagnetizes because of progressive domain wall unpinning. The low-temperature demagnetization is grain size dependent for PSD/MD greigite, with coarser grains undergoing larger remanence loss. AC susceptibility measurements indicate consistent blocking temperatures (TB) for all synthetic and natural greigite samples, which are probably associated with surficial oxidation. Low-temperature magnetic analysis provides much more information about magnetic mineralogy and domain state than room temperature measurements and enables discrimination of individual components within mixed magnetic mineral assemblages. Low-temperature rock magnetometry is therefore a useful tool for studying magnetic mineralogy and granulometry of greigite-bearing sediments. © 2009 by the American Geophysical Union.