Anisotropy of complex magnetic susceptibility as an indicator of strain and petrofabric in rocks bearing sulphides

Abstract

A new method, anisotropy of complex magnetic susceptibility (ACMS), for determining the petrofabric of specimens with conductive minerals is developed. The method uses the same induction coil equipment and techniques that can be used for the measurement of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS). However, a higher (100 kHz) operating frequency emphasizes the electrical conductivity response and thus yields a measure of the anisotropy of electrical conductivity of the specimen. The method was tested on variably deformed plasticine samples containing aluminium fabric markers and on synthetic aggregates of pyrrhotite and talc-pyrrhotite mixtures deformed triaxially at a confining pressure of 200 MPa (2 kbar) by up to 35% homogeneous shortening. ACMS successfully defines the petrofabric and permits prediction of the principal directions of finite strain. The intensity of AMS and, to a lesser extent, of ACMS correlate with the strain ratio in these simple, coaxial, flattening plane strain experimental deformations on selected materials.