The effect of low-temperature hydrothermal alteration on the remanent magnetization of synthetic titanomagnetites - A case for acquisition of chemical remanent magnetization

Experiments were performed demonstrating that a chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) can be acquired during the aqueous oxidation of synthetic titanomagnetites (TM40:Fe/2.6/Ti/0.4/O4) by the removal of iron, as it does in the oceanic crust basalts. Results showed that the CRM is acquired along the ambient field direction during oxidation, and that there is no coupling of the CRM and the thermoremanent magnetization. The rate of oxidation was found to be pH-dependent, with the amount of CRM acquired varying inversely with the pH of the oxidizing solution. The reaction produced nascent hydrogen gas. Results support the chemical equation for titanomagnetic oxidation proposed by Worm and Banerjee (1984).