Preliminary study of magnetic properties and magnetic mineralogy of the limestone samples from Egyptian Pyramids and Giza Pyramids Plateau

Ibrahim A. EL-HEMALY; Mohamed A. ABD ALLA; Igor TÚNYI; Oto ORLICKÝ

Ibrahim A. EL-HEMALY National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics
Mohamed A. ABD ALLA National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics
Igor TÚNYI Geophysical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences
Oto ORLICKÝ Geophysical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences

Keywords: scorodite, its transformation to Fe oxide

Abstract

The limestone samples of the Eocene to Pliocene age from the pyramids and
quarries have been studied by the magnetic methods. It has been revealed that the arsenic
containing scorodite mineral is a dominant carrier of magnetic properties in the studied
materials. This mineral is of a diamagnetic state in its original form. During its heating
the transformation takes place accompanied by the change of magnetic susceptibility.
Over the 300 ◦C the transformation of scorodite into maghemite and hematite took place
and so the increase of magnetic susceptibility and the intensity of partial thermoremanent
magnetization were detected.

Author Biographies

Ibrahim A. EL-HEMALY, National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics

P.O.Box 11722 Helwan, Cairo, Egypt

Mohamed A. ABD ALLA, National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics

P.O.Box 11722 Helwan, Cairo, Egypt

Igor TÚNYI, Geophysical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences

Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 28 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Oto ORLICKÝ, Geophysical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences

Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 28 Bratislava, Slovak Republic