Synthesis and Magnetic Characterization of Dispersed Titanomagnetite Microcrystals Prepared by the Modified Glass–Ceramic Method

Titanomagnetites (Fe_3−xTi_xO₄) are common magnetic minerals in igneous and metamorphic rocks and also occur in meteorites. This paper presents a new synthesis method of model rocks—submicron grains of titanomagnetite, quasi-uniformly distributed in a glass–ceramic matrix (much needed for rock magnetic experiments in the laboratory). We used as a basis the glass–ceramic method (Worm and Markert, Phys Earth Planet Inter 46:263–269, 1987) and introduced there some modifications, which allowed synthesizing samples without using a high-temperature gas-mixing furnace and corresponding gas equipment unavailable in most laboratories. We carried our four independent synthesis runs with different synthesis parameters and described the obtained samples: its geometry, density and distribution of titanomagnetite grains in a non-magnetic matrix, samples’ magnetic properties such as Curie temperature, magnetic susceptibility, and magnetic hardness. Titanomagnetite inclusions demonstrate a predominantly single-domain behavior and are characterized by low titanium content (x < 0.1). The described synthesis method is promising for obtaining artificial (titano)magnetite-bearing rock samples with controlled properties such as titanium content in titanomagnetites, size, concentration, and distribution of magnetic grains in a glass–ceramic matrix and can be used for investigating rock magnetic effects in laboratory conditions.