Mineral Magnetism

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.

Author Biography

Andrew P. Roberts is Professor of Research School of Earth Sciences at the Australian National University. He uses mineral magnetism to study diverse Earth and biological processes and has (co-)authored more than 300 journal articles. He is Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the Royal Society of New Zealand and has been awarded the Leverhulme Prize, Axford Medal, and Mawson Medal.