Effect of plastic deformation in laboratory conditions on magnetic anisotropy of sedimentary rocks

In order to correlate the degree of plastic deformation and low-field magnetic anisotropy, a series of laboratory pressure experiments were carried out on a batch of grey marls. Samples were gradually deformed using triaxial high-pressure device. The confining pressure of 300 MPa was used, yielding maximum relative deformation up to 20% depending upon the uniaxial differential stress. In the range of initial deformation, irregular changes of the anisotropy parameters were typically observed. This effect is related to variable pre-deformation orientation of the anisotropy ellipsoid in the samples. At higher deformation, samples are characterized by increasing degree of magnetic anisotropy and by increasing foliation. Reorientation of paramagnetic phyllosilicate grains due to plastic deformation seems to be the most probable mechanism of the magnetic anisotropy changes.