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Reverse Thermo-Remanent Magnetism

Nature volume 169, pages 704–705 (1952)Cite this article

Abstract

A LARGE number of experimental investigations has been carried out on the direction of the geomagnetic field in past geological times by means of the remanent magnetization of large masses of igneous rocks1. The results showed that many rock masses have remanent magnetism, the direction of which coincides with that of the present geomagnetic field within a few tens of degrees, whereas other rock masses have remanent magnetism the direction of which is almost opposite to the present geomagnetic field. The origin of the remanent magnetism of igneous rocks has been attributed to the thermo-remanent magnetism, chiefly as the result of work by Koenigsberger2, Nagata3, Thellier4, Roquet5 and Néel6. As briefly described in my previous communication, the thermo-remanent magnetism is the result of cooling of rock specimens or of ensembles of grains of ferromagnetic ferrites from a certain high temperature in a magnetic field, and the direction of the thermo-remanent magnetism generally agrees with that of the magnetic field applied during cooling.

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References

  1. See, for example, Chapman, S., Nature, 161, 462 (1948).

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  2. Koenigsberger, J. G., Gerl. Beitr. Geophys., 35, 51, 204 (1932); 36, 47 (1933); Terr. Mag., 43, 119, 299 (1938).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geophysical Institute, University of Tokyo,

    TAKESI NAGATA

Authors
  1. TAKESI NAGATA
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NAGATA, T. Reverse Thermo-Remanent Magnetism. Nature 169, 704–705 (1952). https://doi.org/10.1038/169704a0

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