Magnetic mineralogy
Different rock magnetic studies are carried out in the laboratory to identify magnetic minerals, their grain sizes and their ability to preserve remanent magnetization. Such measurements are performed on rock samples and on marine and lake sediments.
Magnetic minerals can be identified with Curie temperature measurements (Agico, KLY3-CS3), where the powdered sample is heated and cooled step-wise with simultaneous measurement of magnetic susceptibility. Curie temperature measurements are performed in Ar gas, to avoid oxidation during measurement.
Other rock magnetic investigations in the laboratory comprise measurements of anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM) and isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM), which can be carried out on standard cylindrical or cubic rock and soil samples.
