The magnetic balance and its application to studying the magnetic mineralogy of igneous rocks.

Abstract

A magnetic balance operating between -196oC and 800oC with magnetic fields up to 1.2MAm-1 is described. Presents results which show the temperature dependence of the inversion process by which the cation-deficient magnetic minerals in submarine basalts transform to other magnetic phases. It may be that inversion proceeds at a slow rate under submarine conditions. Such inversion, which is accompanied by a change in saturation magnetization and grain size, will inevitably affect the intensity of remanent magnetization and magnetic susceptibility of the submarine crust. -from Authors