Palaeomagnetic Unit and Magnetic Anisotropy (PUMA) Laboratory

The Paleomagnetic Unit and Magnetic Anisotropy (PUMA) Lab is equipped to study the magnetic properties of geological and environmental samples. This includes analyses such as palaeomagnetism, anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and bulk magnetic susceptibility with applications that span geology, geomorphology, environmental science and geotechnical engineering.

AGICO JR5 spinner magnetometer

Used in palaeomagnetic studies to measure the remanent magnetisation of discrete samples.

AGICO LDA5 demagnetiser

Used to demagnetise discrete samples with variable alternating magnetic fields up to 200 mT.

ASC Scientific D-200 demagnetiser

Can demagnetise up to 6 samples simultaneously using alternating field up to 100 mT and impart an anhysteretic remanent magnetisation (ARM) and partial anhysteretic remnant magnetisation (pARM).

Magnetic Measurements MMTD80 magnetically shielded oven

Used to demagnetise samples by heating them up to 700°C in a zero field environment. Mu-metal shielding reduces the magnetic field in the oven to a few nT.

ASC Scientific IM030 impulse magnetiser

Used to impart an isothermal remnant magnetisation in samples between 0.03-1.1 T.

Field Kit

Stihl portable rock drill
Pomeroy orienting tool for magnetic and sun compasses
SM-30 portable magnetic susceptibility meter

AGICO JR5 spinner magnetometer – used in palaeomagnetic studies to measure the remanent magnetisation of discrete samples
AGICO LDA5 demagnetiser – used to demagnetise discrete samples with variable alternating magnetic fields up to 200 mT.
ASC Scientific D-200 demagnetiser – can demagnetise up to 6 samples simultaneously using alternating field up to 100 mT and impart an anhysteretic remanent magnetisation (ARM) and partial anhysteretic remnant magnetisation (pARM).
Magnetic Measurements MMTD80 magnetically shielded oven – used to demagnetise samples by heating them up to 700°C in a zero field environment. Mu-metal shielding reduces the magnetic field in the oven to a few nT.
ASC Scientific IM030 impulse magnetiser – used to impart an isothermal remnant magnetisation in samples between 0.03-1.1 T.

Examples of research activities

Granite related critical metals
Initiation of subduction and serpentinization of oceanic crust
Environmental magnetism – magnetic susceptibility signals of pollution
Emplacement and evolution of igneous complexes
Emplacement and deformation of glacial deposits
Fabrics, strain and geomorphology of landslips and mass movement

Contact us

We welcome enquiries from internal and external users.

For further information contact:

Dr Carl Stevenson (c.t.stevenson@bham.ac.uk)
Dr Marco Maffione (m.maffione@bham.ac.uk)