Detailed thermomagnetic, reflection microscopic and electron-probe microanalyzer studies of 27 selected, mostly andesitic rocks have indicated that partly maghemitized titanomagnetite decomposes at temperatures ranging from 200° to 600°C to ilmenite, ilmeno-hematite, and titanomagnetite forming intergrowths of exsolution lamellae. The unmixed phases are then homogenized to titanomagnetite at temperatures between 500° and 800°C.
Difference in thermomagnetic curves in a cycle of heating and cooling between room temperature and 600°C is mostly owing to whether or not the mixing temperature is higher than 600°C. If the mixing proceeds in the thermomagnetic cycle, the Curie temperature observed in a cooling cycle is much lower than the initial value, since titanium content in titanomagnetite increases with mixing of ilmenite and ilmenohematite caused by heating.
Size dependence of the mixing rate has also been revealed by thermal experiment with pulverized and separated specimens.
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