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Temperature dependence of magnetic domains in magnetite crystals
Author(s) -
Heider Franz,
Halgedahl Susan L.,
Dunlop David J.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl015i005p00499
Subject(s) - magnetite , paleomagnetism , rock magnetism , magnetic domain , geology , natural remanent magnetization , domain (mathematical analysis) , materials science , single domain , mineralogy , remanence , crystallography , magnetization , chemistry , geophysics , magnetic field , physics , paleontology , mathematical analysis , mathematics , quantum mechanics
Synthetically grown and natural multidomain magnetite crystals (d ≥ 30 µ m) have strongly temperature‐dependent magnetic domain structures. The unblocking of domain walls at moderate temperatures (T < 120°C) makes these magnetite grains unsuitable as paleomagnetic recorders. Approximately 15% of the smaller hydrothermally grown magnetite crystals (d ≤ 10 µ m) show stable domain patterns when heated to 350°C. These magnetites with temperature‐independent domain structures can possibly account for paleo‐magnetic remanences with high blocking temperatures.