Strain memory of the Verwey transition

Abstract

We studied the effects of stress on the Verwey transition for pure, stoichiometric, synthetic multidomain magnetite and for natural multidomain magnetite having both relatively low and high degrees of oxidation. Low‐temperature measurements of the magnetic moments were carried out after pressure release. Our results unambiguously show an increase in the Verwey transition temperature with increasing pressure that ranges from 1 K/GPa for stoichiometric magnetite to 3 K/GPa for highly oxidized magnetite for pressures up to about 5 GPa. The transition width broadens with increasing stress for stoichiometric magnetite and then becomes less broad as oxidation increases until the width is invariant with respect to stress for highly oxidized magnetite. Heat treatment to 700°C does not appreciably reverse the effect, which could make the Verwey transition suitable for use as a geobarometer in cases where high pressures (>1 GPa) are involved, such as in meteorite impact craters. A model explaining the results is put forward.