Notícies
10.03.2022New susceptometer in the Paleomagnetism laboratory
The Scientific and Technological Centers of the University of Barcelona have acquired a new piece of equipment, an “MFK2-FA Spinner Kappadridge Susceptometer” from the AGICO brand. The equipment will be located in the Paleomagnetism laboratory, and will improve the service offered by the existing KLY2 susceptometer, which will remain active in the laboratory.
The MFK2-FA susceptometer is designed to measure the magnetic susceptibility (k) of materials and rocks from 10.4 cm3 solid samples, which is the standard in Paleomagnetism studies. Its sensitivity, 10-8 SI, is significantly higher than previous versions of AGICO. It also incorporates new features as:
• Measurement of susceptibility at three different frequencies and in different fields.
• Automated 15-position measurement routine, without user manipulation, which allows a faster and more accurate measurement of Magnetic Susceptibility Anisotropy (ASM).
• Possibility of extending the performance with an oven and a cryostat by measuring the variation of k with temperature, and obtaining thermomagnetic curves and determining the Curie Temperature.
Applications
• Susceptibility and Magnetic Factory: The susceptibility measures with MFK2-FA allow to determine the Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (ASM), and to characterize the orientation of the minerals, and the factory of the rocks.
• Environmental Magnetism: The presence of super-paramagnetic particles (SP) in sediments and soils can be monitored by measuring susceptibility at different frequencies.
• Magnetic mineralogy: The measurement of magnetic susceptibility allows to detect subtle changes in the concentration and mineralogy of magnetic particles. Its analytical power can be expanded by measuring the susceptibility to temperature, amplitude of the inductive field or frequency.
CCiTUB collaboration with UB Research Institutes
The acquisition of the equipment has been carried out through the "Grants for the renovation of obsolete scientific and technological research equipment of the University of Barcelona". The request was led by Dr. Miguel Garcés, through the UB-Geomodels Research Institute, with co-financing of the project “Impact of the Paleogene Climate Transitions on the Sedimentary Systems of Iberia” IP's: Miguel Garcés Crespo and Miguel López Blanco (PID2019-106440GB-C21 of MCIUN - Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities).