Characteristics of drying remanent magnetization in sediments

Abstract

Drying remanent magnetization is shown to be a physical phenomenon which is dependent on water content and magnetic grain shape. Anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM) acquisition studies show that no significant chemical changes occur on drying. There is a critical water content below which grain motion ceases. In a clay matrix, this water content is about 75% for single-domain needles and below 70% for single-domain euhedral grains. The rotation of grains during drying causes the magnetic moment to rotate toward the plane perpendicular to drying compression, and toward the external magnetic field. The rotation for euhedral grains is not restricted by shape anisotropy, while that for acicular grains is. Drying remanence cannot be completely removed once a sample has dried below its critical water content; however, most natural samples may be near or below their critical water content when cored.