Haematite natural crystals: non-linear initial susceptibility at low temperature

Abstract

Several works have reported that hematite has non-linear initial susceptibility at room temperature, like pyrrhotite or titanomagnetite, but there is no explanation for the observed behaviours yet. This study sets out to determine which physical property (grain-size, foreign cations content, domain walls displacements) controls the initial susceptibility. The performed measurements include microprobe analysis to determine magnetic phases different to hematite; initial susceptibility (300 K); hysteresis loops, SIRM and backfield curves at 77 K and 300 K to calculate magnetic parameters and minor loops at 77 K, to analyze initial susceptiblity and magnetization behaviours below Morin transition. The magnetic moment study at low temperatura is completed with measurements of Zero Field Cooled- Field Cooled (ZFC-FC) and AC-susceptibility in a range from 5–300 K. The minor loops show that the non-linearity of initial susceptibility is closely related to Barkhausen jumps. Because of initial magnetic susceptibility is controlled by domain structure it is difficult to establish a mathematical model to separate magnetic subfabrics in hematite-bearing rocks.