A comparison of anisotropy of magnetic remanence methods — a user’s guide for application to palaeomagnetism and magnetic fabric studies

Abstract

Abstract Anisotropy of magnetic remanence (AMR) is increasingly being applied to palaeomagnetic and structural fabric studies. AMR techniques measure the anisotropy of the remanence carrying particles, and thus are directly relevant to palaeomagnetic studies concerned with computing the direction and intensity of the Earth’s ancient magnetic field from the natural remanent magnetization (NRM) recorded in anisotropic rocks. This paper provides a comparison of several AMR methods, including some of the less well-known techniques, and highlights the relative merits of each. Results from a strongly anisotropic rock and a pottery sherd are presented. The anisotropies of anhysteretic remanent magnetization (AARM) and isothermal remanent magnetization (AIRM) are currently the most commonly applied types of AMR, since they have provided reasonably good analogues of the anisotropy of thermoremanent magnetization (ATRM) acquired in the Earth’s field. They have also helped to correct for inclination shallowing of detrial remanent magnetization (DRM) in sediments. IRM anisotropy is the most rapid AMR technique, and is particularly useful for very low concentrations of remanence carrying particles. The gyroremanences, gyroremanent magnetization (GRM) and rotational remanent magnetization (RRM), are preferentially acquired by stable single-domain (SD) particles, and are thus directly relevant to the particles of major interest in palaeomagnetism. GRM anisotropy is the most sensitive AMR method. It is essentially the remanence equivalent of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) delineator, since a single application of an alternating field will only produce a GRM in a sample containing an anisotropic distribution of particles. Static ARM methods need to take account of components of GRM that are simultaneously acquired.