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Volume 61 Supplement 1

Special Issue: Magnetism of Volcanic Materials-Tribute to Works of Michel Prévot

Controlled atmosphere vibrating thermo-magnetometer (CatVTM): a new device to optimize the absolute paleointensity determinations

Earth, Planets and Space volume 61, pages 101–110 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

The laboratory of paleomagnetism of Montpellier (France) has developed a new one-axis vibrating thermal magnetometer dedicated to the study of physical properties of natural rocks remanence. Among its key characteristics, this apparatus allows both measurement of the magnetization moment on the interval from room temperature to 700°C with a precision of 2 × 10-9 A m2 and acquisition of a total or a partial thermo-remanent magnetization using a steady field from -100 up to 100 μT. Another point that is worth noting is that one can apply a controlled atmosphere by means of argon flux to prevent oxidation of the studied sample during heating. We report here a technical description of this new instrument and review some specific applications in absolute paleointensity surveys.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Géoscience Montpellier, CNRS and University Montpellier 2, Montpellier, France

    Thierry Poidras, Pierre Camps & Patrick Nicol

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  1. Thierry Poidras
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  2. Pierre Camps
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  3. Patrick Nicol
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Correspondence to Pierre Camps.

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Poidras, T., Camps, P. & Nicol, P. Controlled atmosphere vibrating thermo-magnetometer (CatVTM): a new device to optimize the absolute paleointensity determinations. Earth Planet Sp 61, 101–110 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352889

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352889

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