Magnetism of rocks and volumetric strain in uniaxial failure tests

Summary

The relation between remanent magnetization and volumetric strain for gabbro samples stressed in uniaxial compression inside a near zero-field μ-metal shield has been examined. For samples with an induced IRM parallel to the axis of compression, remanent magnetization decreased linearly up to the onset of dilatancy. As increased stress produced additional dilatancy, the variation of remanent magnetization became nonlinear, and the stress dependence continually decreased until the rock failed. Stress cycling with the peak stress augmented for each cycle produced a continuous decrease in the zero stress value of the IRM although an appreciable amount of recovery was observed during unloading. When the sample was loaded in constant stress increments after the onset of dilatancy and held for several minutes at each level, time-dependent variations in remanent magnetization coincided with time-dependent increases in inelastic volumetric strain. In general as the inelastic creep rate increases, the rate of change in remanent magnetization increases. These results suggest that dilatancy related effects of the intensity of rock magnetization should be observed in magnetic rocks in epicentral regions prior to earthquakes and may serve as both long- and short-term precursors.