Magnetic viscosity of ensemble of medium-sized grains of natural magnetites was examined at various temperatures. It was found that magnetic viscosity coefficient S, defined as
I-I0=
S(
Q+log
t) where
I and
I0 are intensity of magnetization at time
t and
t=0, is proportional to external magnetic field, and
S is a linear function of temperature, except at temperatures close to the Curie point and -160°C, so far as the Rayleigh region of magnetization is concerned. It seems also that
S tends to a finite value according as grain size tends to the order of a single domain.
For ensemble of magnetite grains,
S in expression of Δ
I=
S(
Q+log
t) is very small, and the limit of half life time τ for change in thermoremanent magnetization, expressed by τ=exp
Itr/2
S amounts to 10
120 years.
Further, the half life time for sedimentary rocks, in which directions of grain magnetization are scattered, with reduction factor
w, is about 10
10 years for
w=1/5. These results may show that remanent magnetization of igneous and sedimentary rocks have been stable against thermal viscosity during a geologically long time.
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