What does paramagnetic mean in mineralogy ?
Paramagnetic : definition
Paramagnetic minerals are minerals attracted by the magnetic field of an electromagnet (amphiboles, pyroxenes, biotite, etc...), due to a magnetic permeability m greater than 1. They are thus opposed to diamagnetic minerals (carbonates, halides...), which are repelled under the same conditions, because of a magnetic permeability lower than 1.
These different behaviors in the magnetic field of an electromagnet are used in mineral separation to obtain pure minerals, for the purposes of fine mineralogy, geochronology or geochemistry.
These different behaviors in the magnetic field of an electromagnet are used in mineral separation to obtain pure minerals, for the purposes of fine mineralogy, geochronology or geochemistry.