Textural Remanence: A New Model of Lunar Rock Magnetism

In reexamining the accumulated magnetic data on lunar rocks, several common patterns of magnetic behavior are recognized. Their joint occurrence strongly suggests a new model of lunar rock magnetism, which is based on partial preferred textural alignment of the spontaneous moments of magnetic grains without requiring the existence of ancient lunar magnetic fields. This magnetic fabric, mimetic to locally oriented petrofabric, gives rise to an apparent 'textural remanent magnetization'. In order to account for the observed intensity of 'stable remanence' in lunar rocks, only a minute fraction (0.001 to 0.00001) of the single-domain iron grains present need be preferentially aligned. Several mechanisms operating on the lunar surface, including shock and diurnal thermal cycling, appear adequate for producing the required type and degree of magnetic alignment in all lunar rock classes. The model is supported by a wide variety of direct and indirect evidence, and its predictions (e.g., regarding anisotropic susceptibility and remanence acquisition) can be experimentally tested.