Russian Journal of Earth Sciences
Vol. 5, No. 4, August 2003

Properties of the chemical remanent magnetization formed at a single-phase oxidation and a subsequent decomposition of titanomagnetites

A. K. Gapeev and S. K. Gribov


Abstract

Regularities of influence of a single-phase (SP) oxidation and a subsequent decomposition of synthetic titanomagnetites (TM) of a different original composition (Fe3-xTixO4 (where x = 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6)) upon the change of their hysteresis parameters and on properties of the resultant chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) were determined as a result of the laboratory researches. Calculations were made of the changes of magnetization of the igneous rocks similar to the investigated TM of a composition with x = 0.4 taking into account SP changes of the primary titanomagnetite at a high partial pressure of oxygen. The influence of CRM on safety of the primary (thermoremanent) magnetization at different stages of the SP oxidation of TM and decomposition of the cation-deficient TM was assessed. The results which were obtained may be used for interpretation of changes in the magnetic properties of the submicron grains of TM in the course of their thermal transformation on the earth surface.