GEOPHYSICS, VOL. 34, SO. 6 (DECEMBER 1969), P. 9J4-YSi, 11 FIGS.
, 2 TABLES
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF ULTRAMAFIC
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FROM RED MOUNTAIN, CALlFORNlAt
AFIF HAN1 SAAD*
A representative ultramafic intrusion at Red
Mountain southeast of San Francisco, California
was sampled for the purpose of studying the
remanent magnetism and susceptibility of ultra-
mafic rocks as functions of serpentinization. Due
to the dependence of grain density upon the
degree of serpentinization, the former was taken
as a measure of the latter. Grain densities were
accurately determined from bulk densities by
taking into account the porosity and amount of
adsorbed water contained in these rocks. In
general, the porosity was found to increase with
serpentinization.
The magnetic data suggest that the remanent
magnetization is mainly a chemical remanent
magnetization acquired during the process of
serpentinization whereby iron atoms, released
from the silicate structure of the paramagnetic
olivine and pyroxene, are oxidized to form ferri-
INTRODUCTION
Ultramafic rocks such as dunite, peridotite,
pyroxenite, and their hydrated alteration product,
serpentinite, produce many of the large magnetic
anomalies encountered in exploration (Irwin and
Bath, 1962; Gaucher, 1965), yet little quantitative
data have been available about their magnetic
properties as functions of composition, serpentini-
zation, and paleomagnetic history. This paper
deals with variabilities found in density, porosity,
and magnetic properties of Red Mountain ultra-
mafic rocks which are.consideredto be representa-
tive of the most common types of i\lpine ultra-
mafic rocks. These rocks are of special importance
as they are typically emplaced along continental
margins in belts of highly deformed eugeosyncli-
t Manuscript received by the Editor September30, 1968; revisedmanuscriptreceivedAugust 13, 1969.
* Department of Geophysics,Stanford University, Stanford, California; now at GeologyDepartment, University
of Missouri at Rolla, Rolla, Missouri 6.5401.
Copyright 01970 by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
974
ROCKS
magnetic magnetite. The intensity of both rema-
nent and induced magnetization increases expon-
entially with serpentinization. However, the
remanent magnetization becomes highly unstable
as the rock becomes intensely serpentinized. This
is due to the growth of magnetite grains to multi-
domain size and their oxidation, in some cases,
to maghemite. The intensity of magnetization
also depends on mode of occurrence and state of
oxidation of the magnetite, and on original rock
composition. Serpentinized dunites were found to
be less magnetic than equally serpentinized
peridotites, because the olivine in the dunites has
a lower iron content than the olivine and pyroxene
in the peridotites. Therefore, it is expected that
some serpentinized ultramafic bodies will have
highly variable magnetic anomalies associated
with them, while others of dunitic composition
will have low magnetic anomalies.
nal rocks and they are also common in island
arcs, trenches, and mid-oceanic ridges (Wyllie,
1967). DeRoever (1957) and Burch (1968) sug-
gested that most of the Alpine type ultramafic
intrusions have been tectonically emplaced up-
wards from the mantle. Therefore, by studying
these rocks, one can gain a greater understanding
about the material of the mantle and about the
changes which occur in this material as it moves
upward in the earths crust. Similarly, from a
detailed knowledge of their magnetic properties,
one may be able to make thorough and signifi-
cant interpretations of magnetic anomalies en-
countered in mineral or petroleum exploration.
The majority of the samples used in this investi-
gation were collected from the Red Mountain
 Magnetic Properties
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IIc. 1. Index map showing location of Red Mountain (small rectangle) in relation to the tectonic features of Cali-
fornia Coast Ranges. Striped areas are Franciscan eugeosynclinal rocks of upper Jurassic to mid-Cretaceous.
ultramafic body, Mount Boardman Quadrangle,
California (Figure 1). A few samples were ob-
tained from the Twin Sisters intrusion of fresh
dunite in Washington State, for the purpose of
comparison. The study consisted of the following
parts:
Accurate determination of rock density as a
measure of the degree of serpentinization.
Determination of the remanent magnetism
and susceptibility.
Investigation of the correlation between the
above magnetic properties and the degree of
serpentinization.
4. Investigation of other factors affecting the
magnetization, such as original composition
of the rocks and mode of occurrence of
magnetic minerals.
.5 Investigation of the mechanism by which
the remanent magnetism was produced.
The directions of the remanent magnetization
and their paleomagnetic reliability and signifi-
cance are discussed elsewhere (Saad, 196X; 1969).
GEOLOGIC SETTING
The Red Mountain is a large ultramafic body
that intrudes the uppermost part of the exposed
Franciscan section (Figure I). The intrusion is
probably a sill or laccolith in the center of a large
syncline roughly parallel to the strike of the
of Ultramafics 975
sedimentary rocks. It is bounded on the east by
slightly metamorphosed sandstones and shales of
upper Cretaceous age. The contact is the Tesla-
Ortigalita fault, one of the major structural fea-
tures of the Diablo Range (Figure 2). On the
north and south, the body is surrounded by meta-
morphosed Franciscan sandstones and shales of
Jurassic age. However, the nature of the contact
is not as obvious as on the eastern side. Bodenlos
(!!?SCj a~ndMaddeck (1955) indicated that along
and close to the contact the body has been sheared
and serpentinized while the Franciscan sediments
are tightly drag-folded. Such features suggest
faulting at the contact. Contact metamorphism
along the margins of the intrusion is very slight,
indicating that the body was intruded at fairly
low temperature, probably under .5OOC, thus
favoring the hypothesis of cold crystalline intru-
sion of peridotite magma.
The Red Mountain ultramafic body consists
mainly of serpentinized peridotite. Maddock
(1961) described a representative thin-section as
consisting of the following minerals: olivine
(Fo+-90), 50 percent; enstatite, 15 percent;
diopside, 5 percent; serpentine, 30 percent; and
opaque minerals (mainly magnetite), 1 percent.
However, density measurements (tliscussed later)
and thin-section examinations re\.ealed that the
peridotites cover a wide range oi serpentiniza-
tion from 20 to 95 percent and they are 65 percent
 976 Saad
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q K Upper Crec~ze~:

q PD Peridotite
q DU Dunile
HSP Serpentinite
0 PX Pyroxenite
IgjGE! Gobbro

_aJF Franciscan Formation

(Upper Jurassic)
c-
I-
_

u5O
Red Mountain
Strike
syncline
8 Dip of beds
0
MILE-
I
I

FIG. 2. Generalizedgeologic map of the Red Mountain area showinglocationsof collectingsites. Numbers as
so&ted with solidcirclesreferto sitesof orientedsamples.Crossesare sitelocationsof unorientedsamples.(Geology
taken from Maddock, 1964; Bodenlos,1950; and Hawkes et al, 1942).

serpentinized on the average. Although these
rocks are mostly lherzolite containing both ortho-
and clino-pyroxene, harzburgite with no clino-
pyroxene has been found also.
A minor part of the surface outcrop is dunite
in the form of small bodies near the center of the
intrusive mass (Figure 2). It consists mainly of
olivine with accessorygrains of primary chromite
and secondary magnetite. According to Maddock
(1964), 65 to 75 percent of the original olivine was
intensely serpentinized, though an average of 85
percent serpentinization is suggestedfrom density
measurements in this study. Pyroxenite, with
coarse-grained diopside and enstatite and with
minor amounts of olivine, occurs locally as small
lenses and pods and is about 20 percent serpenti-
nized.
Serpentinite, a rock that is completely ser-
pentinized peridotite and dunite, occurs in zones
of fracture and shear in the main body and as
smaller neighboring sills believed to be detached
from the main body. Most of the serpentinite
samples in this work were collected from the
small sill south of the main Red Mountain body
(Figure 2). The main constituent mineral is
antigorite with minor amounts of chrysotile and
secondary magnetite. Outlines of some pyroxene
grains were observed in thin sections suggesting
that these rocks were originally peridotites rather
than dunites.
FIELD TECHNIQUES AND
LABORATORY PROCEDURES
Samples were obtained at several sites along
road cuts and trails in the Red Mountain area
(Figure 2) by means of a portable gasoline-
powered, water-cooled diamond core drill (Doe11
and Cox, 1967a). Most of the cores were oriented
in situ. They were 2.49 cm in diameter and were
cut into one to three specimens each (about 2.28
cm long) for remanent magnetization measure-
ments.
The intensity and direction of remanent magne-
tization were measured on a spinner magnetom-
eter of the type described by Doe11 and Cox
(1967b). A digital computer was used to reduce
the magnetometer readings to direction and
intensity values with estimated accuracies of
+ 1.3 (s.d.) and +6 percent (s.d.) respectively.
In order to examine the stability of the remanent

magnetism, some specimens with various degrees
of serpentinization were subjected to progressive
step demagnetization in peak alternating fields of
12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 600 oersteds. The
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apparatus used is a three-axis tumbler that rotates
the specimen in an alternating field smoothly
reduced to zero from a peak value (Doe11and Cox,
1967~).
Reversible susceptibilities were measured with
a magnetic susceptiblity bridge, using an alternat-
ing magnetic field of 100 Hz and rms intensity of
about 2 oersteds at the sample position. The
reproducibility of measurements is 4 percent
(s.d.). Relative accuracy is of the order of 5 to
10 percent. Polished sections and thermomagnetic
measurements were used to identify the magnetic
minerals in 20 specimenswith different degrees of
serpentinization.
The apparatus used for thermomagnetic meas-
urements is an automatically recording quartz
torsion balance described by Clark (1967). The
accuracy of the Curie temperatures is estimated
as +SC. Magnetic separates from one sampl
were analyzed by the X-ray diffraction methods.
DENSITY OF ULTRAMAPIC
Eject oj porosity on density
The density of ultramafic rocks is a measure of
their degree of serpentinization. Apparent or
bulk densities of the specimens were determined
by dividing their weights by the measured
volumes of the cylinders. Values were found as
low as 2.30 gm/cm* which is closeto the minimum
value reported for serpentinite (Hess and Otalora,
1964; Burch, 196.5). According to Hess and
Otalora, the decreasein density is due to adsorp-
tion of water and swelling of the cores under
humid conditions followed, sometimes, by desorp-
tjon under dry conditions. The Red Mountain
ultramafic rocks contain from 0.05 to 4 percent
adsorbed water. This was determined by loss of
weight at 100 to 120C from the relation
where Wr is the weight of the dry sample (after
heating) and Wp is the weight of the sample in
ordinary laboratory condition. Thus, in order to
take the density as a measure of the degree of
serpentinization, one has to account for the effect
of the adsorbed water and porosity. In other
Magnetic Properties of Ultramafics 97T
BULK DENSITY ip&, pm/cm
FIG. 3. Relation between porosity and bulk density
(open symbols), and between grain density and bulk
density (solid symbols) of ultramafic rocks.
words, grain density rather than bulk density is a.
better measure of the degree of serpentinization.
To determine the porosity, 70 specimens were
placed in water under a vacuum of 75 cm of
mercury for 48 hours until saturation. The poros-
ity was found from the equation
ROCKS
S$percent =
ws- WI
wa - lv4 x loo,
where Wt and Wr are the weights of saturated
sample in air and in water, respectively. The
porosity increases as the density decreases. The
relation is shown in Figure 3. Diment (1964)
found a similar relation for the Puerto Rico
serpentinite with grain density ranging from 2.6
to 2.8 gm/cma. His measured values of porosity,
however, are lower than those reported here,
possibly due to incomplete saturation.
The porosity values found above were used to
compute the grain density pp from bulk density
pafor the same samples by the relation
1 -(Y
--
p&J- 1 - 4 Pb
wherearis the fractionalamount of adsorbed water,
and q5is the fractional porosity. The grain densi-
ties are plotted against bulk densities in Figure 3,
and the curve is used to find the grain densities
of all other specimens from their known bulk
densities. The grain densities thus determined are
accurate to about 5.02 gm/cm.
 978
n Serpentinite
c] Perldotlte
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q Pyroxemte
2 0
GRAIN DENSITY (f-,), Clm/cm3
-++-??I80
100 60 40
PERCENT OF SERPENTINIZATION
1:~. 4. Histogram of grain density of rock specimens
from Red Mountain. The correspondance between
grain density and degree of serpentinization is also
shown.
Relation betweelt demity and degree
0-fserpestinization
To relate the grain density to the degree of
serpentinization, a precise estimate of the grain
densities for the fresh and completely serpen-
tinized end members of the ultramafic series is
needed. Based on microscopic observations and
on the values reported in the literature (Hess,
1959; Birch, 1960; Hess and Otalora, 1961; and
Daly et al, 1966), average values of 2.60 and 3.30
gm/cm3 were adopted for the grain densities of
100 and 0 percent serpentinized ultramafics re-
spectively. Values reported outside this range can
be due to a high chromite percentage in fresh
(unserpentinized) rocks and underestimation of
porosity or percent of adsorbed water in the
completely serpentinized ones. The correspond-
ence between grain density and degree of serpen-
tinization within the range of 2.6 to 3.3 gm/cm3 is
shown in Figure 4, based on a direct linear rela-
tion between the two.
Fvcquency distributiolz oj density
The distribution of grain densities for the four
rock types of the ultramafic series is illustrated in
Figure 4. The means and standard deviations are
given in Table 1 which also shows that the data
are normally distributed according to the chi-
squared test. In general, the fit to the normal
distribution is better for each of the rock types
separately than when combined. The means of
the grain densities indicate that, on the average,
Saad
the pyroxenites are 20 percent serpentinized while
the peridotites and dunites are 65 and 85 percent
serpentinized respectively. Therefore, it is more
correct to name these rocks scrpentinized peri-
dotites and serpentinized duni tes. The distinc-
tion between the serpentinitcs and the highly
serpentinized peridotites or (Iunites is rather
difficult and based on the complete absence or
presence of remnant grains of fresh olivine or
pyroxene. In Figure 4 and similar figures that
follow, the separation of these groups is also based
on the fact that the serpentinites were collected
from the completely serpentinized small sill and
not from the main body. Thus, some of the highly
serpentinized dunites or peridotities may be
classified petrographically as serpentinites or
vice versa. The apparent high densities of some
of the serpentinite specimens (Figure 4) is due
to a high percentage of chromite.
The average serpentinization of the entire
Red Mountain body is 65 percent (Table 1 and
Figure A), which is higher thau previously found
from petrographic studies (Rodenlos, 1950;
Maddock, 1955). However, Petersen (1960)
concluded from a gravity study that the average
bulk density of the Red Mountain ultramafic
rocks is approximately equal to that of the
Franciscan graywacke indicating an average
serpentinization of 75 percent.
RESULTS OF MAGNETIC MEASUREMENTS
Intemity of induced asd revm,zcnt magnetizotiou
Frequency distribution.-The magnetic suscep-
tibility K and intensity of natural remanent mag-
netization J measured for all specimens from
the Red Mountain area show a wide range of
values. This is illustrated by Figures 5a and 5b
which are histograms of K and J respectively
plotted on a logarithmic abscissa scale. Figure 5c
shows the logarithmic distribution of the ratio of
remanent to induced magnetism (Kiienigsberger
ratio Q which is expressed as Q = J/KF, where F is
the intensity of the present geomagnetic field,
taken as 0.506 oersteds at die Red Mountain
area). Irving et al (1966) sho\\cd that magnetic
data can be fitted to the logarithmic normal dis-
tribution better than to a normal distribution.
Thus, the average of the logarithm of the individ-
ual values rather than the usual arithmetic aver-
age provides a better estimate of the true mean.
The means and standard (leviations of the
 Magnetic Properties of Ultramafics 979

magnetic properties for the four rock types are high values of K and J and low values of Q com-
summarized in Table 1. A chi-squared test sug- pared to the dunite, peridotite, and pyroxenite
gests that the distributions of J, K, and Q, in groups which have progressively lower K and J
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general, are logarithmic normal. The fit. is much
better for individual petrologic groups than for
the entire set, mainly because the many speci-
mens from the serpentinite group exhibit a
separate peak in the distribution (Figures 5a and
5b). The fit of the log normal distribution is also
better for J and Q than for K (Table 1).
Relation betweenmagnetization and original rock
compositiolz.-From Table 1 and Figures 5-8,
it may be seen that the serpentinite group
and higher Q. Obviously, this is more related to
the degree of serpentinization than to rock com-
position; the pyroxenites are less serpentinized
than the peridotites, dunites, and serpentinites
(Figure 4). However, most of the dunites, though
highly serpentinized, have abnormally low values
of both K and J, while some of the slightly ser-
pentinized pyroxenites have distinctly high K and
J. This is wellshown in Figures 6 and 7. Moskaleva
has and Zotova (1965) have reported that the dunite

Table 1. Summary of values of intensity of NRM J, susceptibility K,

Koenigsberger ratio Q, and grain density ps

Rock Type: PX PD DU SP RM Total Total

N 11 120 35 54 166 220

1111 -3.91 -3.79 -3.74 -2.90 -3.79 -3.57
a1 0.41 0.38 0.30 0.17 0.36 0.50
J (emu/cm3) 20.3 7.6 6.3 13.6 46.4
$ 0.13 0.70 0.30 0.60 0.001
U2.X104 1.23 1.62 1.82 12.6 1.62 2.69
1&X 104 1.79 2.45 2.26 13.5 2.37 5.10

N 12 128 38 64 178 242

n2, -3.74 -3.59 -3.31 -2.31 -3.54 -3.21
VI 0.34 0.36 0.31 0.20 0.37 0.64
4.2 52.5 6.8 23.5 38.3 159.4
K (emu/en+) $ 0.90 0.001 0.90 0.001 0.001 0.001
V&X104 1.82 2.57 4.90 49.0 2.88 6.17
r,z,X104 2.39 3.83 6.13 53.8 4.22 17.3

N 12 120 34 5.5 166 221

,121 0.133 0.087 -0.141 -0.305 0.043 -0.043
u1 0.190 0.251 0.229 0.240 0.260 0.284
CT $ 4.3 19.8 11.9 14.7 23.7 31.8
0.40 0.10 0.20 0.10 0.05 0.005
1,t 1.36 1.22 0.723 0.496 1.10 0.906
l& 1.49 1.40 0.834 0.586 1.29 1.12
-
iv 10 129 38 64 177 241
11L2 3.14 2.85 2.70 2.62 2.84 2.78
pa km/cm) (r 0.05 0.10 0.04 0.06 0.13 0.15
$ 0.60
1.0 14.0 0.3 11.7 38.2 16.6
0.20 0.90 0.02 0.001 0.40
- _
PX Pyroxenite
Peridotite
E Dunite
Serpentinite
& Total Total for Red Mountain proper (PX+PD+DU)
Total Total for all specimens
N Number of specimens
1121,
(rl Mean and standard deviation of the log-normal distribution
In Anti logarithm of ~tl
I&, (I Normal mean and standard deviation
P Probability of x2 distribution, a value of PsO.05 indicates good fit of the data to the log-normal
or normal distribution at that level
X2 chi-squared test.
 980 Saad

W Serpeniimte referred to as anomalous peridotites. The origin

q Dunite of their anomalous magnetization may be related
q Peridotite
to any of the following processes:
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0 Pyroxenite

1. Tectonic movements and shearing along the

fault can cause some rotation of the mag-
netic moments, thus reducing the magnetiza-
tion.
2. Some of the magnetic minerals may be
-4 -3 -2
LOG,, K , emu/cm3
removed from the rock by solutions rising
along the fault and percolating through the
zY 20
rock.
3. Tectonic heating of the rocks by friction near
E
E=J
the fault may cause the oxidation of some of
!$ IO the magnetite to maghemite or hematite,
E reducing both J and K. Results of thermo-
5
1 magnetic measurements, X-ray diffraction
-5 -4 -3 -2 and microscopic observations of some
LOG,, J, emu/cm3
samples indicated that magnetite is oxidized
easily into hematite at temperatures as low
Y as 100C. The oxidation process is time-
k! dependent and attains an equilibrium state
E 20
%
after a certain time In this respect, Frolich
& and Stiller (1960) and Stiller et al (1961) also
p IO found that secondary magnetite in serpen-
tinite samples is oxidized between 280 to
z
400C into maghemite and later into hema-
-I -.5 0 .5 I tite. Moreover, the stability of the magne-
LOG,, 0 tization in these anomalous peridotites is
quite variable as described later (Figures 9
Fro. 5. HistogramsOL(a) susceptibility,~
(b) intensity
of natural remanent magnetization, and (c) KBenigs- and i-i-j. it is possible that the stabie magne-
berger ratio. tization in some of these rocks is due to
hematite while the unstable magnetization
in others is due to maghemite as explained
has lower susceptibility than the peridotite in
by Nagata (1961). Hematite was identified,
most ultramafic plutons of the Urals. They
in a polished section of a stable rock, as fine
reasoned that the original dunite minerals were
particles along the boundary of magnetite
less ferruginous and hence are less magnetic even
grains while maghemite was identified, in a
when heavily serpentinized. .4n examination of
polished section of an unstable rock, as large
the mineral composition of Red Mountain ultra-
grains enclosed in the magnetite grains. The
mafics (Table 2) indicates that the pyroxene is
identification of maghemite was based on:
generally more ferruginous than the olivine, and
(a) its characteristic bluish-grey color in
that the amount of iron is higher in the olivine of
polished section under reflected light (lighter
the peridotite than in the olivine of the related
than magnetite), (b) being isotropic in
dunite. Also in most dunites, iron occurs mainly
polarized light as compared to hematite, and
in the chromite, which is least affected by ser-
(c) the thermomagnetic curve of the mag-
pentinization, and therefore the iron is not capable
netic separates measured in vacuum showed
of being released. These variations in mineral
a distinct irreversible change of magnetiza-
composition are reflected in the magnetic proper-
tion possibly corresponding to the inversion
ties of the Red Mountain ultramafics.
of maghemite.
Some peridotites also have low values of K and
J. All such samples are located near the fault Although the third process seems to be the
contact of the ultramafic intrusion. They will be main origin of the anomalous magnetization, a
 Magnetic Properties of Ultramafics 981

combined effect of the three processes is possible. as density decreases and hence as degree of
Relation between maglzetization and grailz delz- serpentinization increases. The relation may be
s&y.-Large positive magnetic anomalies are com- described by the empirical equations
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monly associated with serpentinized parts of Logr, (K - 0.80 X lo-) = 13.06- 5.90~,,
ultramafic bodies. This suggeststhat a correlation
exists between the magnetic properties and den- and
sity. Cox et al (1964) found that unexpectedly the LograJ = 3.75 - 2.56 pg,
correlation is positive; samples with lower den-
where pBis in gm/cm3; K and J are in emu/cm3.
sities (completely serpentinized) tend to have
Although the constants in the equations may
lower susceptibilities, more stable and less intense
vary from one ultramafic body to the other, it is
remanent magnetization, and lower Koenigs-
believed that the effect of serpentinization on K
berger ratio than the samples with higher densi-
and J can be described by similar exponential
ties (incompletely serpentinized). They explained
relations for other ultramafic bodies. This is
that extreme serpentinization of the samples was
substantiated by the similarity among the sus-
accompanied by a loss of secondary magnetite
ceptibility data of this study and those of Burch
produced during the earlier phase of serpen-
(1965) and Komarov (1965).
tinization. On the other hand, Burch (1965) and
The ratio of remanent to induced magnetiza-
Komarov (1965) showed that the magnetic sus-
tion seems to increase with density attaining a
ceptibility increases as the density decreasesover
maximum value at intermediate densities of
a wide range of densities, though Burchs data
show considerable scattering. about 2.95 gm/cm3 and may decrease at higher
densities (Figure 8). The solid curve drawn in
In the present study, sample means of sus-
Figure 8 represents the empirical equation
ceptibility K, intensity of NRM _7and Koenigs-
berger ratio Q are plotted as functions of average 1
sample grain density pB in Figures 6, 7, and 8 - = 0.506[10(8.64-3.00~~)]

respectively. Although the points are scattered, Q

the graphs indicate a general increase of K and J + 0.405[10~~~5~~~7~75~].

0 AnomalousPeridotite

A Fresh Twin Sisters Dunite

(for comparison)

0 cl 0
0
I 1 I , I , I t I c I so I o,A I
2.6 2.6 3.0 3.2 3.4
GRAIN DENSITY P, I gm/cm3

FIG. 6. Variation of susceptibility with grain density. All points are sample means.
 982 Saad
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,A 1 ,
0.1
2.6
2.8
3.0
3.2 34

GRAIN DENSITY P,, gm/cm3

Fig. 7. Variation of intensity of natural remanent magnetization with grain density.

All points are sample means. (Symbols as in Figure 6.)

\
\
\
0 \
\

o.J/ * 2.6
I
2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

GRAIN DENSITY pS , gm/cm3

FIG. 8. Variation of KBenigsberger ratio with grain density. All points are sample means. (Symbols as in Figure 6.)
 Magnetic Properties of Ultramaflcs 983

Table 2. Mineral composition of Red Mountain the values of J are more scattered than the values
ultramafic rocks of K.
]After Maddock (195 5)]

Mineral Average composition Stabdity of natural remunent magneti5sation

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Rock

Olivine Dunite FosaFalo To test the stability of XRM, two experiments

Olivine Peridotite FossFall
Pyroxene Peridotite Ens&8
Pyroxene Pyroxenite
EnTaFszzto Ens7Fsra
(range)
The change of Q with density probably is related
to grain size variation. The chemical remanent
magnetization (CRM) of the fine-grained secon-
dary magnetite, developed during the early stages
of serpentinization, is magnetically harder than
the initial thermoremanent magnetization (TRM)
of the pyroxenite or peridotite. As serpentiniza-
tion increases, the grain size of the magnetite
increases and the CRM becomes magnetically
softer.
The scattering in Figures 6 through 8 is at-
tributed to other factors that affect the magnet-
ization of the rocks. The most important of these
are grain size and shape, coercive force, secondary
components of magnetization including weather-
ing effect, and possibly thermal and stress history
of the rocks. Because these factors have a greater
effect on NRM intensity than on susceptibility,
were conducted: one to measure the change in
magnetization with time known as the storage
test, and the other to measure the change in
magnetization due to applied alternating fields.
Stwuge ted.-The original magnetization of all
specimens was measured twice in an average
period of 1.5 yrs. Any significant change in magne-
tization indicates the existence of soft magnetic
components that can be realigned by the earths
field. The results of this test (Figure 9) show that
most of the serpentinites are unstable with J
changing by a factor of up to 20. The pyroxenites
and most of the peridotites and dunites are
stable with minor changes in intensity, indicating
a considerable stability of NRM on the labora-
tory time scale. The anomalous peridotites, on
the other hand, have varying stabilities.
Stability to a&rnating fields.-A total of 35
specimens were subjected to progressive step
demagnetization in alternating fields with peak
values of up to 600 oersteds as described before.
The purpose of these experiments was to deter-
mine the distributionof NRM among magnetic

80

n Serpentinite
Ej Dunite
cl Anomalousperidotite
(low J 8 K)
a peridotite

0 Pyroxenite

Fro. 9. Storagetest histogramshowing changes in intensity of NRM with repeat measurements. JI apd Jz, first
and secondmeasurementsbetweenwhich averagetime interval was 1.5 yrs.
 984 Saad

SPECIMEN Plgm/cm3
-9-
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DU5lBI 2.70

SP33B2 2.63
\ =a SP32B2 2. 56
- Type I: Stable \,
\
-.-.-Type II: Intermediate lb
SP38A2 2.59
--- Type ILI: Unstable

PX49B2 3. IO

PD3lBI 2.94
PDOSAI 2.81
SP40AI 2. 66

PD24BI 2.76

SPl3A2 2.70

-ff , b
SPl4AI 2.69
I I I ,
25 50 100 200 400 800
g (OE)
FIG. 10. Typical ac demagnetizationcurvesshowingstability of NRM for the ditIerent ultramafic rock types and
various degreesof serpentinization.Ordinate is the fraction of original intensity of NRM remainingafter de-
magnetizationin alternatingfield of peak value 6 oersteds.(Symbolsasin Figure 6).

domains with different coercivity, and thus help
in establishing the nature of the remanent mag-
netism.
Figure 10 shows some examples of typical
demagnetization curves for the various rock types
and degre& of serpentinizatioa The curves are
divided into three types. Type I is characteristic
of stable magnetization whereby more than 50
percent of VRM remains after demagnetization
in 200 oersted alternating field. This indicates that
most of the magnetization resides in domains
with high coercive forces. Curves of this type are
typical of CRM or TRM (Kobayashi, 1959).
Type II curves exhibit moderate stability with 10
to 50 percent of XRM remaining after demagnet-
ization in 200 oersted field, while Type III, with
less than 10 percent of the NRM remaining at
200 oersteds, shows high instability. These experi-
ments indicate that a varying portion of NRM
is of viscous secondary origin and resides in the
lower part of the coercive force spectrum.
Figures 10 and 11 show also that the stability of
NRM decreaseswith density except for the dunite
group which has low density but high stability.
The pyroxenites and peridotites have curves of
Type I and II while most of the serpentinites
exhibit maximum instability (Type III). The
anomalous peridotites, on the other hand, have
various degrees of stability (Figure 11). Some are
highly unstable while others are very stable (e.g.
Specimen PD09Al in Figure 10). The degree of
stability of the magnetization in these rocks is
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J( 6boe)/J,

J k%-oe) /Jo
FIG. 11. Histograms of the fraction of original intensity of NRM remaining after demagnetization in
100 and 200 oerstedsalternating fields. (Seelegendfor Figure 9).

possibly a reflection of the extent to which the

magnetite is oxidized to maghemite and/or hema-
tite as explained before.
It was found that, in virtually all cases, the
samples with unstable ac demagnetization char-
acteristics also changed magnetically during
storage.
THE NATURE OF REMANENT MAGNETIZATION
The results of this investigation indicate that
the remanent magnetization of the Red Mountain
ultramafic rocks is chemical remanent magnetiza-
tion (CRM) developed during serpentinization
of the body. The magnetization of the pyrox-
enites is probably in large part thermoremanent
magnetization (TRM). However, in all other
rocks types the effect of the initial TRM is
negligible because it is either weak compared to
the strong CRM or possibly was destroyed during
serpentinization. These conclusions are supported
by the following evidence:
1. The increase of susceptibility and NRM
intensity with the degree of serpentinization
suggests the production of new magnetic
minerals during the process of serpentiniza-
tion which can be represented by the follow-
ing chemical reaction (Hess, 1933) :
-+ 3H4MgsSiz09 + Fe&
Serpentine Magnetite
The process involves the liberation of iron
atoms from the silicate structure of the
paramagnetic olivine and pyroxene, their
oxidation and the combination of the oxides
to form ferrimagnetic magnetite.
That the above reaction does take place is
indicated by the higher ratio of Fe?OJFeO
in serpentinized ultramafics than in unser-
pentinized ones (Bailey et al, 1964).
Polished sections and thin sections showed
an increase in the amount of opaque minerals
with serpentinization. The opaque minerals
are mostly magnetite with (uric tempera-
tures between 5.50 to 580C.
The fresh end members of the ultramafic
series contain few magnetic minerals as
shown by their low susceptibility and rema-
nence, and from microscopic examination.
This means that most, if not all, of the
magnetite found in the serpentinized series
is of secondary origin and resulted exclu-
sively from the chemical process of ser-
pentinization.
 666 Saad
5. The magnetite can scarcely have TRM be-
cause the temperature at which serpentiniza-
tion takes place (below SOOC) is lower than
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the Curie temperature of magnetite and
more probably lower than the most effective
blocking temperature. Thus, we conclude
that the NRM concerned is mostly CRM
generated at a low temperature (possibly
300-4OOC) during serpentinization.
6. The results of a fold test applied to the
average directions of magnetization exclude
the possibility of TRM as the origin of
magnetization (Saad, 1969).
7. The reduction in the stability of magnetiza-
tion with increasing serpentinization and the
high instability of the serpentinite group are
in accordance with the theory of production
of CRM (Haigh, 1958; Kobayashi, 1961)
whereby the early formed magnetic minerals
grow from single to multidomain size.
Eventually, the CRM will disappear and
the specimens will have only isothermal
remanent magnetization in the applied
field or will develop viscous magnetization
with time The growth in grain size observed
in polished sections is accomplished by
coagulation of the earlier fne grains rather
than by nucleation process.
The instability of magnetization in some
of the extensively serpentinized samples is
increased further by the development of
maghemite (Akimoto and Kushiro, 1960;
Nagata, 1961, p. 214). During extensive
serpentinization, an excess supply of oxygen
is available to oxidize magnetite to mag-
hemite. The CRM, produced in the latter
during the oxidation process at temperatures
much below its Curie temperature, com-
pletely disappears as the grains of mag-
hemite grow to perfect multidomain size. IJn-
stable IRM alone remains in the specimens.
Maghemite was identified in one specimen
by its characteristic bluish-grey color in pol-
ished section under reflected light and by
its thermomagnetic behavior as explained
earlier.
Most of the dunites, though highly
serpentinized, were found to have stable
magnetization. This is because the shortage
of iron in the original dunite minerals or its
inaccessibility, being in the chromite struc-
ture, prevents the growth of the magnetite
in size during serpentinization. Examination
of polished sections revealed that most of
the fine grains of opaque minerals are magne-
tite while all the large grains are chromite.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Serpentinized ultramafic intrusions generally
have strong magnetic effect due to the chemical
remanent magnetization acquired during the
process of serpentinization. However, the Red
Mountain intrusion was found to possess highly
variable magnetic properties. The variability is
related in large part to the degree of serpentiniza-
tion. As serpentinization increases, the magnetiza-
tion increases in intensity but decreases in
stability. In the highly serpentinized rocks, the
strong magnetization is mostly a soft viscous
magnetization. Thus the contribution of the
remanent to the total magnetism is more impor-
tant in the partially serpentinized ultramafics
than in the highly serpentinized ones (Figure 8).
Other factors that affect the intensity of magne-
tization to a lesser extent include original rock
composition, thermal history of the rocks, and
mode of occurrence of the magnetic minerals.
The original rocks are the potential source of iron
for the magnetite formed during serpentinization.
Normally dunite, having less iron content in its
primary minerals, is less magnetic than peridotite
and pyroxenite when all are equally serpentinized.
If the degree of serpentinization and original rock
composition are identical, an ultramafic rock
can still have different intensities of magne-
tization due to the difference in the oxidation
state, shape, and size of the magnetic minerals.
It was observed that magnetite, in some of these
rocks, can be oxidized easily to maghemite or
hematite at temperatures between 200 to 400C
thus reducing the magnetization. For a given
proportion of magnetite, the magnetization is
stronger when the magnetite is in the form of fine
disseminated particles and veinlets rather than
in the form of large rounded grains.
The significance of the above conclusions is
that a given ultramafic body that is uniformly
serpentinized may have a nonuniform magnetiza-
tion if it is originally composed of different rock
types, and thus gives a highly variable magnetic
anomaly. On the other hand, fresh ultramafic
bodies and serpentinized dunite bodies whose
original olivine minerals are highly magnesian are
 Magnetic Properties of Ultramafics 987

-~ 1967c, Analysis of alternating field demagnetiza-

not always sufficiently magnetic to be detected.
tion equipment, in Methods in paleomagnetism,
In general, the magnetic data and results ob- edited by K. M. Creer, et al: Amsterdam, Elsevier
tained in this study are contributions to the Publishing Co., p. 241-253.
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Frb;lich F., and Stiller, H., 1960, Some results of labora-

interpretation of magnetic anomalies associated
with ultramafic bodies.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am greatly indebted to Professor Allan
Cox for his supervision, valuable discussions, and
careful reading and editing of the manuscript.
I would like also to thank Professor Seiya Uyeda
for his assistance during early stages of the investi-
gation and Professor G. A. Thompson for suggest-
ing the area of study and for his continuous
couragement, advice, and review of the manu-
script.
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