Initial susceptibility, coercive force and several types of remanent coercive forces were measured on a set of artificial rock specimens containing grain-size fractions of a natural magnetite and titanomagnetite, both of which are optically homogeneous and a natural titanomagnetite and titanomaghemite, both of which show exsolution phenomena. It was found subsequently that the optically homogeneous titanomagnetite contains some submicroscopic Fe-rich inclusions. These inclusions are magnetically screened in coarse grains; only for the lower grain sizes studied they have an appreciable influence on the data. The size of the fractions varied from < 5 to 250pm. The parameters and several parameter ratios are plotted as a function of grain size. Several of these parameters can be used as mineralogical and grain-size indicators. The varying degree of exsolution of the minerals is reflected in the gradients of the plots. From plots of initial susceptibility versus grain size it is concluded that the shape of the grains does not play a dominant role in determining the change of this parameter with grain size. Variation of the various parameters with grain size is explained in terms of a gradual transition from large PSD grains to MD grains without there being any sharp transition. For titanomagnetite ( x = 0.55) the transition takes place at grain sizes that are about 15 pm larger than for magnetite.

ARM and I, stability with respect to alternating field and lowtemperature treatment were measured for a set of artificial rock specimens. Each of the specimens contained a known amount of a natural magnetic mineral of a known grain size. The following minerals were used: a homogeneous natural magnetite, a natural titanomagnetite with submicroscopic Fe-rich inclusions, and a natural titanomagnetite and a natural titanomaghemite that both show exsolution phenomena. The grain size of the fractions varied from < 5 to 250pm. It is found that the stability of ARM and Z , of multi-domain grains with respect to alternating fields and low-temperature treatment is similar, whereas for the smallest grains studied (< 5 pm) ARM is more stable than I,. Multi-domain ARM data from this study are in agreement with current multi-domain ARM theory. Low-temperature behaviour of ARM and I,, can be explained either in terms of a model in which stable moments in the bulk of the grains are screened by the surrounding matrix or in terms of a model in which regeneration of the bulk remanence plays a role and in which stable moments are situated on the surfaces of the grains.

Continuous recordings were made of thermal demagnetizations of Isr, ARM and TRM induced in artificial rock specimens. The artificial rock specimens contained well-defined grain-size fractions of a natural titanomagnetite, which under an optical microscope was homogeneous. Using a Transmission Electron Microscope it was shown that submicroscopic inclusions exist within the titanomagnetite. Screening of the remanence of these inclusions by the surrounding titanomagnetite is thought to be responsible for the occurrence of 'peaks' in the continuous thermal decay curves of Isr and ARM; higher 'peaks' observed in the case of TRM are thought to be caused by the combined effects of screening and an anti-parallel remanence in the titanomagnetite. Further submicroscopic exsolution processes, which occur in the titanomagnetite as a result of repeated heating, can be deduced from the development of new 'peaks', from changes in the temperature at which the 'peak(s)' occur, their shape and their relative height. The use of stepwise demagnetization techniques on the titanomagnetite yielded erroneous directional results due to the screening in the titanomagnetite; the biasing effects due to screening could be avoided by using continuous thermal demagnetization techniques.

Summary. TRM, ARM and Isr stabilities with respect to alternating fields and high‐ and low‐temperature treatment are compared for a set of artificial rock specimens. The specimens contain grain‐size fractions of a homogeneous natural magnetite and a natural magnetite showing exsolution lamellae. The grain‐size fractions are in the PSD‐MD range and vary between < 5 and 250 μm. For large MD grains the coercivity spectra of ARM are similar to those of Isr but differ from those of TRM particularly in the lower part of the spectrum. For small (< 5μm) grains the coercivity spectrum of ARM is similar to that of TRM, and both spectra are different from the coercivity spectrum of Isr. The use of ARM instead of TRM to determine palaeo‐intensities is discussed in relation to the results obtained. During high‐ and low‐temperature treatment ARM behaves similarly to Isr but unlike TRM for all grain sizes studied. The results of this study are discussed in terms of a remanence composed of PSD surface moments and MD and PSD bulk moments.

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