Separation of diamagnetic and paramagnetic anisotropy by high-field, low-temperature torque measurements

The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) of rocks can be composed of contributions from ferromagnetic, paramagnetic and diamagnetic minerals. However, in general the AMS of only one fraction is of interest. While there are several approaches to isolate the ferromagnetic contribution to the AMS, the separation of the diamagnetic from the paramagnetic contribution is still problematic. A new method for the separation of these two contributions based on high-field torque measurements at room and low-temperature is presented. The paramagnetic anisotropy increases at low temperature according to the Curie–Weiss law, whereas the diamagnetic contribution is temperature independent. If the paramagnetic AMS is due to perfectly oblate or prolate minerals and the ratio of the susceptibility differences at two temperatures is known, paramagnetic and diamagnetic AMS can be separated. When measuring in fields high enough to saturate the ferromagnetic phases all three contributions to the AMS can be separated. The separation of paramagnetic and diamagnetic AMS is demonstrated on natural crystals and synthetic calcite–muscovite aggregates. A high-field torque magnetometer, equipped with a cryostat for measurements at 77 K, allows sensitive measurements at two different temperatures. The sensitivity at 77 K is 3 × 10−7 J and standard-sized (palaeomagnetic) samples of 11.4 cm3 can be measured. This new method is especially suited for the investigation of diamagnetic fabrics of impure carbonate rocks.