Mineral Magnetism

This book provides an in-depth treatment of the magnetic properties of all major terrestrial rock-forming minerals.

Andrew P. Roberts (Author)

9781108832236, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 18 December 2025

564 pages
27.9 x 21.6 x 3.2 cm, 1.752 kg

Knowledge of the magnetic properties of minerals is used in diverse research fields, including the Earth, planetary, environmental, biological, and materials sciences, and nanotechnology. This book is intended for advanced students, researchers and professionals working in these fields. Part I introduces readers to the essentials of mineralogy and, using high-school mathematics and physics, demonstrates how minerals record magnetic information. After laying these foundations, along with a treatment of the essential methods used to study mineral magnetism, the chapters in Part II each focus on the magnetic properties of a major magnetic mineral, with “minor” minerals treated together in a single chapter. This essential 'from the ground up' introduction to the topic, with in-depth treatment of each magnetic mineral and a guide to the extensive technical literature, is an invaluable resource for beginners and experts alike.

Part I. Essentials of Mineral Magnetism: 1. Introduction
2. Fundamentals of Mineralogy
3. Fundamentals of Mineral Magnetism
4. Experimental Methods in Mineral Magnetism
Part II. Magnetism of the Major Terrestrial Rock-Forming Magnetic Minerals: 5. Magnetite (Fe3O4)
6. The Titanomagnetite (Fe3-xTixO4) Series
7. Hematite (a-Fe2O3)
8. The Titanohematite (Fe2-yTiyO3) Series
9. Aluminium Hematite (a-Fe2-yAlyO3)
10. Maghemite (g-Fe2O3) and Titanomaghemite
11. Goethite (a-FeOOH)
12. Pyrrhotite (Fe1-xSx)
13. Greigite (Fe3S4)
14. Other magnetic minerals
Part III. Conclusions and Future Work: 15. Conclusions and Future Work
Appendix 1
Appendix 2.

Subject Areas: Geophysics [PHVG]