Magnetic properties of rocks 1300-SZD-WMS
Magnetic studies in Earth sciences have traditionally been applied to reconstruct the past Earth’s magnetic field, continental drift, stratigraphy, and mineralogy. Modern trends in magnetic studies focus on rock microstructure, domain state of magnetic minerals, chemical stability during diagenesis, effects of hydrocarbons and microbial activity, as well as biomineralization of new magnetic crystals and environment pollution with anthropogenic particles. The research on the anisotropy of magnetic properties allows deciphering directions and degrees of tectonic deformations, sediment microstructure homogeneity, and primary sedimentary processes.
The lecture discusses conditions of magnetic moment preservation in geological time scales, as well as during experimental treatment in the laboratory, a wide range of magnetic method applications, measurement procedures, and mathematical and statistical techniques in the data processing.
The lecture topics are as follows:
1. Introduction to the magnetism of solid materials and Earth’s magnetic field.
2. Magnetic susceptibility – physical model, laboratory and field measurements, interpretation.
3. Magnetic remanence – hysteresis loop, model of magnetic domains, magnetization energy, temperature effect, and stability of remanence in time,
4. Magnetic properties of natural ferromagnetic minerals. Identification of minerals with magnetic methods.
5. Geochemistry, precipitation, and stability conditions of magnetic minerals.
6. Magnetism in environmental analysis. Iron geochemistry, biomineralization, anthropogenic effects.
7. Palaeomagnetism and magnetostratigraphy. Apparent polar wander and continental drift.
8. Secular variations of Earth’s magnetic field – high-resolution stratigraphy and investigation of archaeological sites.
9. FORC (first-order reversal curve) analysis, multicomponent systems (end-member analysis), and magnetic granulometry.
10. Anisotropy of magnetic properties. Magnetic fabric in relation to sedimentary processes and tectonic deformation.
11. Analysis of dispersion on a sphere. A statistical approach to anisotropy.
12. Laboratory instruments and software in magnetic studies. Planning of magnetic surveys.
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
P8S_WG – the participant knows:
- state-of-art and modern trends of magnetic methods in Earth sciences,
- fundamental hypotheses and models allowing for analysis of magnetic remanence in rocks,
- knowledge of processes leading to magnetic mineral formation and transformation,
- a mathematical approach used in the statistical processing of magnetic data,
- software for magnetic studies.
P8S_UW – the participant can:
- apply magnetic techniques as an independent method at a wide range of scientific fields: physics, chemistry, biology, environmental protection,
- show the potential utility of magnetic techniques in combination with other scientific methods.
P8S_KK – the participant has skills to:
- identify potentially important measurement errors within magnetic results,
- identify interpretations achieved in magnetic studies which are still hypothetical and based on simplified models.
Assessment criteria
Written exam (a test)
Practical placement
none
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: