The Role of Pigment and Specularite in the Remanent Magnetism of Red Sandstones

Abstract

The origin of the remanent magnetism of red sandstones has been investigated by separating the polycrystalline haematite grains (specularite) from rocks and comparing the properties of the remanent magnetism of the specularite, the residual pigment-quartz separate and the original rock. From the results it is possible to determine the relative importance of the two haematite forms as carriers of the remanent magnetization in different rocks and to suggest probable magnetization processes.