Major part of the course is devoted to the study of ferromagnetism because it forms the basis of the rock-magnetic phenomena. The ultimate goal of the lectures is to prepare M. Sc. Special attention is given to the magnetic anisotropy of ferromagnets, theory of domain structure, magnetic hysteresis, theory of isothermal magnetization, energy balance during remagnetization process, and to the magnetization process of single- and pseudosingledomain particles and subsingledomain areas. The influence of physical defects in crystal lattice on the magnetization of real crystals and dependence of structure-sensitive parameters of ferrimagnets on temperature are considered. The course is destined to M. Sc.
Rocks are very specific objects from the point of view of magnetism.
Natural ferrimagnets exhibit a wide diversity of magnetic properties, their magnetic behavior being further complicated with various possible kinds of defects present in their crystal lattice. Remanent magnetization of rocks, which is the main carrier of palaeomagnetic information, may as well be of different origins and hence exhibit widely diverging properties. Special attention is given to the magnetic properties of magnetite. The notion of palaeomagnetic information is introduced and principles of interpretation of palaeomagnetic data and methods of evaluation of the reliability of palaeomagnetic results are considered. Methodology of palaeomagnetic measurements is reviewed as applied for igneous and sedimentary rocks with the emphasis on the peculiarity of various kinds of rocks as palaeomagnetic recorders.