Continuation of a Facility: Institute for Rock Magnetism

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0218384BanerjeeEarth materials - rocks, sediments, soils - all contain magnetic minerals in trace amounts. The properties of these minerals (chemical composition, grain size, concentration) are determined by the geologic processes and conditions under which the rocks/sediments originally formed and by which they have been subsequently affected. Laboratory measurements of bulk rock/sediment samples, under different conditions of temperature and applied magnetic fields, enable quantitative analysis of the trace magnetic mineral characteristics, and yields valuable information for reconstructing their history. Natural-material magnetic research has important applications over a broad expanse of science, including paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental research, paleogeographic reconstruction of the past locations of the continents and oceanic tectonic plates, and the history of the Earth's magnetic field. This grant provides for continued support of the Institute for Rock Magnetism (IRM) at the University of Minnesota over the next five years. The IRM (http://www.geo.umn.edu/orgs/irm/irm.html) is the leading international facility for in-depth fundamental research on the magnetic properties of rocks, sediments and minerals. A state-of-the-art assemblage of instruments allows detailed magnetic characterization through measurements under widely-varying conditions of temperature, time and applied magnetic field. Research by IRM-resident scientists is complemented by that of Visiting Fellows, selected through a competitive proposal process from the global geoscience community. The IRM also enhances the research infrastructure for Earth sciences by organizing technical workshops and research conferences, developing and maintaining a public database of magnetic properties of geomaterials, and providing research-related news and information through a web site and quarterly newsletter.***