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The results of the rock magnetic and paleomagnetic studies for the Quaternary loess-sol deposits of Ukraine are reported. The magnetic properties of the rocks composing the sections in the Pre-Black-Sea Depression (Roksolany) and Volyn Upland (Boyanychi and Korshev) are compared. Based on the highly precise measurements by modern instruments, the primary magnetization component is isolated in the rocks and its polarity is reliably determined in both the loess and soil horizons. The position of the Matuyama-Brunhes boundary in the Roksolany section is determined at a depth of 46.6 m at the contact of the Lubenskii and Martonoshskii soil horizons. This is consistent with the present-day notions of the group of Ukrainian scientists about the Quaternary stratigraphy of the south of Ukraine and inconsistent with the previous results that placed this boundary at a depth of 34 m in loesses above the PK level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rock magnetic and paleomagnetic results from the Upper Paleozoic sedimentary sequences composing the isles of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago are presented. The recorded temperature dependences of the magnetic susceptibility, the magnetic hysteresis parameters, and the results of the first-order reversal curve (FORC) measurements suggest the presence of single-domain or pseudo-single-domain magnetite and hematite grains in the rocks. The Upper Paleozoic deposits overall are promising for unraveling the tectonic evolution of the Barents-Kara region. Together with the rock magnetic data, the positive fold and reversal tests testify to the primary origin of the indentified magnetization components. However, the interpretation of the paleomagnetic data should take into account the probable inclination shallowing. New substantiation is offered for the paleomagnetic poles for Early Devonian and Late Permian. For the first time, paleomagnetic constraints are obtained for the Late Carboniferous boundary. It is shown that the Early Cimmerian deformation stage within the Paikhoi-Novaya Zemlya region is associated with the sinistral strike slip displacement along the Baidaratskii suture during which the internal structure of the Southern Novaya Zemlya segment could undergo shear in addition to the nappe-thrust transformations. The Northern Novaya Zemlya segment, which is shifted northwest with respect to the Southern segment, was deformed in the thrusting mode with an overall clockwise rotation of this segment relative to the East European Craton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of the magnetic survey data suggests the presence of a frontal zone of intense magnetic anomalies in a number of the Pacific island-arc systems. These zones with amplitudes of 100-300 nT are observed within the Kuril-Kamchatka and Aleutian island arc systems, in Southern and Central America, and Alaska. As demonstrated by the solution of the inverse problem and petromagnetic investigation of the rocks, these zones are presumably related to the serpentinite bodies which form as a result of the hydration of the upper mantle peridotites by the oceanic water penetrating through a system of cracks and fractures into the subducting slab at its bend. The rock magnetic studies show that magnetite is the main carrier of magnetization in these serpentinite bodies. Hydration of the subducting slab also causes hydration of the mantle rocks of the overriding plate with the formation of the magnetized serpentinite wedge. The decompaction of ultrabasic rocks under hydration is marked by a decrease in the gravity field and velocities of elastic waves. As the subducting plate loses water, it becomes embrittled and becomes the localization region for the epicenters of the strongest earthquakes. Magnetic survey can be used for revealing the potential sources of catastrophic earthquakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of numerous rock magnetic and paleomagnetic studies of Pleistocene deposits in the Loess Plateau in China which were obtained over a period of a few decades are analyzed. It is shown that two important problems remain unsolved. These are (1) developing the particular mechanism of 'magnetic enhancement' in the soils, probably with a more accurate assessment of the level of effect of various natural factors causing qualitative changes in the magnetic fraction of the soil. Here, both the chemical composition of the newly crystallized magnetic mineral causing this enhancement and the parameters of the corresponding secondary (chemical) magnetization process should be determined. (2) Fixing the exact climate-stratigraphic position of the main paleomagnetic benchmarks of the Pleistocene, primarily the Matuyama-Brunhes reversal. In contrast to many conclusions, it is inferred that the Pleistocene paleoclimatic loess-soil record in China generally disagrees with the oxygen isotope (OI) record in the deep-sea sediments. This inconsistency is particularly significant for the Matuyama chron deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of studying the magnetic properties of the components of the natural environment of the Barabinsk forest steppe accommodating the archaeological monuments dated to VI century B.C. to II century A.D. are presented. The rock magnetic model is constructed for a two-layer medium composed of modern soil and an underlying blanket substratum deposits (clay loam, sandy loam, sand). It is shown that the magnetism of the humic horizon of the soil depends on the topographic position and soil type, whereas the magnetic characteristics of the underlying substratum deposits are persistent throughout the studied territory. The ratio of the magnetic susceptibilities of the humus horizon to the substratum is K = 3-6 for the automorphic soil, K = 1-2.5 for semihydromorphic soil, and K = 0.8-1.0 for hydromorphic soil. Based on subdividing the studied territory in accordance with the values of K and the calculated amplitudes of the microanomalies of the magnetic field, the areas where application of the magnetic survey is highly promising, moderately efficient, and unpromising are outlined. The particular cases of the absence of magnetic anomalies above the archaeological objects, the false anomalies, and the chaotic patterns of the low-amplitude anomalies-all the situations when the magnetic survey is inefficient-are explained from the standpoint of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rock magnetic properties of the samples of dredged rocks composing the submarine volcanic edifices within the Sea-of-Okhotsk slope of the northern part of the Kuril Island Arc are studied. The measurements of the standard rock magnetic parameters, thermomagnetic analysis, petrographical studies, and microprobe investigations have been carried out. The magnetization of the studied rocks is mainly carried by the pseudo-single domain and multidomain titanomagnetite and low-Ti titanomagnetite grains. The high values of the natural remanent magnetization are due to the pseudo-single-domain structure of the titanomagnetite grains, whereas the high values of magnetic susceptibility are associated with the high concentration of ferrimagnetic grains. The highest Curie points are observed in the titanomagnetite grains of the igneous rocks composing the edifices of the Smirnov, Edelshtein, and 1.4 submarine volcanoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report here the results of laboratory analog experiments to consider the potential effects of solar energetic particles (SEP or solar-flare-associated particles) and galactic cosmic rays (GCR) on the magnetic properties of extraterrestrial materials. We carried out proton bombardment experiments (with irradiation energies E=400, E =850 keV and three irradiation fluences in 10-10 p/cm range) and lead-ion bombardment experiments ( E =1 GeV) on (previously demagnetized by 120 mT alternating magnetic field) rock and synthetic samples with the following magnetic carriers: metallic iron and nickel iron, Ti-rich and Ti-free magnetite, pyrrhotite. Irradiation experiments resulted in either further demagnetization or magnetization of irradiated samples depending on the type of magnetic mineralogy and type of ionizing radiation involved. Apart for the formation of radiation-induced remanent magnetization (RIRM), we observed major changes in bulk magnetic properties, i.e., a moderate to dramatic decrease (up to 93%) in the coercivity of remanence B for all iron-bearing phases (iron-in-epoxy and Bensour meteorite samples). Contrary to iron-bearing samples, several magnetite-bearing samples experienced a radiation-induced magnetic hardening (increase in B). Magnetic hardening was also observed for Ar ion-irradiated nickel iron-bearing HED meteorites, measured for comparison with the previously stated results. Therefore, the combined effect of SEP with GCR may magnetically soften iron-bearing materials and harden magnetite-bearing materials. In order to answer the question wether RIRM may account for natural remanent magnetization of meteorites and lunar samples, physical mechanism of RIRM formation and potential dependence of RIRM intensity on the background magnetic field present during irradiation event should be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new paleomagnetic data on forty dikes and two intrusive plutons of Devonian age located in different parts of the Kola Peninsula, which have not been previously covered by systematic paleomagnetic studies, are reported. We describe the results of the rock magnetic, petrographic, and microprobe investigations of the Devonian dikes and present their isotopic ages (Ar/Ar, stepwise heating). Within the studied area, almost all the Devonian dikes, metamorphic Archaean-Proterozoic complexes of the Fennoscandian Shield, and Proterozoic dikes have undergone low-temperature hydrothermal-metasomatic alteration, which resulted in the formation of new magnetic minerals with a secondary (chemical) component of magnetization. The comparison of the paleomagnetic poles indicates the Early Jurassic age of the secondary component. We suggest that regional remagnetization event was caused by endogenic activity genetically related to the formation of the Barents Sea trap province 200-170 Ma ago. On the basis of the obtained data, the preliminary Devonian paleomagnetic pole of the East European Platform is determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lake Pernatoe is located on Paramushir Island, Kuril Arc, in the area of sand dunes. The 7-m-thick sediments of this lake pertain to the Holocene and contain palustrine, marine, and lacustrine facies. The rock magnetic properties of the sediments are analyzed for tracking the changes in sedimentation conditions. Marine facies are noted with low content of magnetic minerals; their magnetization is dominated by the paramagnetic component; pseudo-single-domain particles of magnetic material and iron sulfides (pyrite) are present. Pyrite frequently occurs in diatoms in the form of chains, spherules, and crystals. The lacustrine facies show high values of the magnetic parameters; they contain multidomain particles, mostly titanomagnetite and magnetite. Sands and sandy silts have the maximum values of magnetic parameters and reflect the stages of aeolian activity, corresponding to climatic cooling and marine regressions. On the basis of magnetic properties, four stages of active aeolian sedimentation are identified in the Holocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A representative collection of Cretaceous rocks of Mongolia is used for the study of the magnetic properties of the rocks and for determination of the paleodirections and paleointensities H of the geomagnetic field. The characteristic NRM component in the samples is recognized in the temperature interval from 200 to 620-660°C. The values of H are determined by the Thellier-Coe method with observance of all present-day requirements regarding the reliability of such kind of results. Comparison of data in the literature on paleointensity in the Cretaceous superchron and in the Miocene supports the hypothesis of the inverse correlation between the average intensity of the paleofield and the frequency of geomagnetic reversals. The increase in the average intensities is accompanied by an appreciable increase in the variance of the virtual dipole moment (VDM). We suggest that the visible increase in the average VDM value in the superchron is due to the greater variability of VDM in this period compared to the Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of magnetic and microprobe studies of the rock sequences in the Mezmaiskaya cave at the unique multilayer Paleolithic site are discussed. The magnetic properties of rocks are analyzed for 17 layers (upwards from layer 4 to layer 1\1) dated from over 73 ka ago to recent times. The rocks of layer 1C (Early Upper Paleolithic, ∼38 ka) are found to have the highest magnetic susceptibility ( K) (up to 2500 × 10 SI), which is related to the intensive activity of [Homo sapiens]. The minimum K corresponds to the rocks of layer 2, which is overlain by layer 1D. The sizes of magnetic grains vary throughout the rock section. The largest grains are found in the middle part of the section in the Middle Paleolithic layers 2B3, 2B2, 2B1, 2A, and 2. The superparamagnetic fraction is identified in all layers. This fact supports the view that the cave was open as early as the formation of layer 4. According to the thermomagnetic data on the saturation magnetization and the temperature curves of magnetic susceptibility, magnetite is the main carrier of the rock magnetization; some samples contain iron hydroxides. Samples with iron sulfides (pyrite) are abundant. The study of the hysteresis parameters of rocks showed that the question on whether sulfide-bearing rocks are suitable for reliable paleomagnetic determinations requires further laboratory research into the origin of magnetite in the rocks. The chemical composition of rocks composing layer 2B3 and layers 1D (∼39 ka) and 2B1 (∼45 ka), in which the presence of volcanic ash has been previously established according to the presence of volcanic glass, was determined by detailed microprobe analysis. A wide variety of chemical elements (up to 18 items) was recognized in layers 1D and 2B1. The iron, titan, chrome, manganese content, and concentrations of other components vary from grain to grain. The microprobe analysis of samples from layers 1D and 2B1 revealed a set of magnetic particles with compositions characteristic of volcanic rocks, which supports the ash origin of these layers. Layer 2B3 is established not to be volcanic ash. The results on the volcanic glass in the rocks of layers 1D and 2B1 were published by Golovanova and her colleagues in Current Anthropology in October 2010 [Golovanova et al., 2010]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of numerical simulation of a subaerial volcanic hydrothermal system. The model is based on the factual data on the rock composition and the geological structure of the Mutnovsky Volcano. We develop a new approach to construct the numerical model of a volcanic hydrothermal system. According to this approach, at each step of the calculation, for each point of the spatiotemporal domain, the thermophysical properties are determined; further, these properties are used in the calculation of the equilibrium state of the system. This procedure allows us to take into account the dynamic changes in the T-P conditions in the cross section and the migration of the phase boundaries. As well, using this approach, we can pass from 'conditional' time in the description of the evolution of the magmagenic fluid system to the 'virtually dimensional time' of the development of the simulated ore-magmatic system, from the onset of melt crystallization in the intrusive chamber up to the termination of the retrograde boiling of the melt. The simulation shows that, depending on the structure of the lower part of the section, contrasting hydrothermal systems can develop in the originally homogeneous medium. The relation between the temperature, and, therefore, phase composition of the fluid and the features of the hydrothermal alteration in volcanic rocks is demonstrated. Among other questions, in the present paper we discuss the changes in the density and magnetic properties of the volcanogenic section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]