1,721,108 research outputs found
Ultra-high sensitivity moment magnetometry of geological samples using magnetic microscopy
Full text linkUseful paleomagnetic information is expected to be recorded by samples with moments up to three orders of magnitude below the detection limit of standard superconducting rock magnetometers. Such samples are now detectable using recently developed magnetic microscopes, which map the magnetic fields above room-temperature samples with unprecedented spatial resolutions and field sensitivities. However, realizing this potential requires the development of techniques for retrieving sample moments from magnetic microscopy data. With this goal, we developed a technique for uniquely obtaining the net magnetic moment of geological samples from magnetic microscopy maps of unresolved or nearly unresolved magnetization. This technique is particularly powerful for analyzing small, weakly magnetized samples such as meteoritic chondrules and terrestrial silicate crystals like zircons. We validated this technique by applying it to field maps generated from synthetic sources and also to field maps measured using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscope above geological samples with moments down to 10⁻¹⁵ Am². For the most magnetic rock samples, the net moments estimated from the SQUID microscope data are within error of independent moment measurements acquired using lower sensitivity standard rock magnetometers. In addition to its superior moment sensitivity, SQUID microscope net moment magnetometry also enables the identification and isolation of magnetic contamination and background sources, which is critical for improving accuracy in paleomagnetic studies of weakly magnetic samples.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (DMS-1521765)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (DMS-0934689)Peterson, Thomas F
Constraining Nebular Magnetic Fields in the Outer Solar System from CO Chondrites
Full text linkPresented at the 2019 Santa Fe Conference on Rock MagnetismBorlina, Caue S; Weiss, Benjamin P; Bryson, James F J; Fu, Roger R; Lima, Eduardo A. (2019). Constraining Nebular Magnetic Fields in the Outer Solar System from CO Chondrites. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/205163
Obtaining vector magnetic field maps from single-component measurements of geological samples
No full textMaxwell's equations can be used to demonstrate that the components of a static magnetic field in a region of space devoid of sources are not independent. This means that magnetometers that measure a single component of the magnetic field can potentially obtain all of three components of the field external to a source. Here we present an improved technique in the Fourier domain which can obtain the complete vector field planar map from just the planar map of one component. This technique is fast, robust, does not rely on any specific source type or configuration, and does not require the formulation of an inverse problem. An in-depth analysis of the advantages and shortcomings of the technique is presented, demonstrating that high-quality three-component field maps with virtually no information loss can be obtained when proper sensor and mapping configurations are used. Several results derived from both synthetic and experimental data are presented. In particular, practical cases are shown where vector maps can assist the analysis of magnetic properties of geological samples. MATLAB® routines implementing the basic vector map calculation algorithm are available as auxiliary materials and can be readily adapted for processing magnetic data obtained from a variety of magnetic sensors
Li zoning in zircon as a potential geospeedometer and peak temperature indicator
Full text linkZircon Li concentrations and δ[superscript 7]Li values may potentially trace crustal recycling because continental and mantle-derived zircons yield distinct values. The usefulness of these differences may depend upon the retentivity of zircon to Li concentrations and isotopic ratios. Given the relatively high Li diffusivities measured by Cherniak and Watson (Contrib Mineral Petrol 160: 383–390, 2010), we sought to discover the scenarios under which Li mobility might be inhibited by charge-compensating cations. Toward this end, we conducted “in” diffusion experiments in which Li depth profiles of synthetic Lu-doped, P-doped, and undoped zircon were determined by nuclear reaction analysis. In separate experiments, Li was ion-implanted at depth within polished natural zircon slabs to form a Gaussian Li concentration profile. Diffusively relaxed concentration profiles were measured after heating the slabs to determine diffusivities. In all experiments, which ranged from 920 to 650 °C, calculated diffusivities are in agreement with a previously established Arrhenius relationship calibrated on trace-element-poor Mud Tank zircon. Our revised Arrhenius relationship that includes both datasets is: D[subscript Li] = 9.60 x 10[superscript -7] exp [-278 ± 8 kJ mol[superscript - 1]/RT] m[superscript 2] s[superscript - 1] We also observed that synthetic sector-zoned zircon exhibits near-step-function Li concentration profiles across sectors that correlate with changes in the rare earth element (REE) and P concentrations. This allowed us to examine how Li diffusion might couple with REE diffusion in a manner different than that described above. In particular, re-heating these grains revealed significant Li migration, but no detectable migration of the rare earth elements. Thus, unlike most elements in zircon which are not mobile at the micrometer scale under most time–temperature paths in the crust, Li zoning, relaxation of zoning, or lack of zoning altogether could be used to reveal time–temperature information. Discrete ~10 μm concentration zones of Li within zircon may be partially preserved at 700 °C for tens to hundreds of years, and at 450 °C for millions of years. In this regard, Li zoning in zircon holds significant potential as a geospeedometer, and in some instances as a qualitative indicator of the maximum temperature experienced by the zircon
Trapped Ar isotopes in meteorite ALH 84001 indicate Mars did not have a thick ancient atmosphere
Full text linkWater is not currently stable in liquid form on the martian surface due to the present mean atmospheric pressure of ∼7 mbar and mean global temperature of ∼220 K. However, geomorphic features and hydrated mineral assemblages suggest that Mars’ climate was once warmer and liquid water flowed on the surface. These observations may indicate a substantially more massive atmosphere in the past, but there have been few observational constraints on paleoatmospheric pressures. Here we show how the [superscript 40]Ar/[superscript 36]Ar ratios of trapped gases within martian meteorite ALH 84001 constrain paleoatmospheric pressure on Mars during the Noachian era [∼4.56–3.8 billion years (Ga)]. Our model indicates that atmospheric pressures did not exceed ∼1.5 bar during the first 400 million years (Ma) of the Noachian era, and were <400 mbar by 4.16 Ga. Such pressures of CO[subscript 2] are only sufficient to stabilize liquid water on Mars’ surface at low latitudes during seasonally warm periods. Other greenhouse gases like SO[superscript 2] and water vapor may have played an important role in intermittently stabilizing liquid water at higher latitudes following major volcanic eruptions or impact events.United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Mars Fundamental Research Program (Grant MFRP05-0108)Ann and Gordon Getty Foundatio
Detrital remanent magnetization in the solar nebula
No full textWe introduce the theoretical basis of a new form of remanent magnetization that likely formed on primitive bodies in the solar system. Accretional detrital remanent magnetization (ADRM) operates via “compass needle”-type alignment of ferromagnetic solids with locally uniform background fields in the solar nebula. Accretion of coherently aligned magnetic particles should have formed aggregates up to centimeters in size with significant net magnetic moment. We quantify several processes that constrain the likelihood of ADRM formation, finding that rotational gas damping and background field intensities expected for the solar nebula are sufficient to mutually align magnetic particles with diameters between ∼30 μm and several cm. The lower bound is dictated by Brownian motion or radiative torque while the upper bound is set by aerodynamic torque on non-spherical particles. Processes important for interstellar dust dynamics such as Larmor-type precession and Purcell torque are less significant in the solar nebula. ADRM can be potentially observed as zones of coherent magnetization in primitive chondrites and may be detected by spacecraft magnetic field observations on the surfaces of small bodies. Observational identification and characterization of ADRM would constrain the strength and geometry of magnetic fields in the early solar system, the accretion process of sub-meter sized objects, the formation regions of chondrite parent bodies, and the alteration history of chondritic components.United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Origins Progra
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
A re-assessesment of the shallow paleomagnetic inclinations of the Western Cyclades, Greece
No full textConsistently shallow paleomagnetic inclinations measured in Early to Middle Miocene lacustrine and dacitic volcanic rocks of the Kymi-Aliveri basin have been cited as evidence for an anomalous geomagnetic field geometry or northward drift of the Aegean Sea region. We present new paleomagnetic data from the lacustrine beds that are instead not anomalously shallow and consistent with deposition near their present-day latitude as predicted by global apparent polar wander paths. Anomalously shallow inclinations and easterly declinations reported from the Oxylithos volcanics are an artifact of an inappropriate tilt correction. The excessively shallow paleomagnetic inclinations reported from the deformed Middle Miocene plutons on Mykonos and Naxos are consistent with reorientation of an original thermoremanent magnetization acquired during cooling below 580°C by subsequent ductile strain at temperatures of 400-500°C. Magnetization overprints observed in these rocks may reflect the acquisition of a stable chemical remanent magnetization lying parallel to the transposed high-temperature magnetization as the result of low-temperature (<350°C) maghemitization. We therefore find no convincing evidence for an anomalous Middle Miocene field geometry, northward drift of the Aegean, or back-tilting of the low-angle normal faults that constitute the North Cycladic Detachment System. Keyword: Tectonics; paleomagnetism; detachment; paleolatitude; Kymi-Aliveri basinNational Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant EAR-0409373
- …
