Magnetic methods applied to the material, life, and environmental sciences

Ferromagnetic minerals make up only a small volume of a rock or sediment, but provide information on the geochemical conditions when a rock is formed and on environmental conditions that will dictate preservation or alteration over geological time. A number of techniques, which help identify the composition, concentration and particle size of the ferromagnetic minerals, have been developed over the past 80 years. These methods are also applicable in the characterization of magnetic nanoparticles, whose synthesis has become a major global industry with a range of applications. Magnetic methods provide information that can be used to assess performance for an application and long-term chemical stability. It is important to understand the long-term fate of these particles with respect to biomedical applications that use magnetic nanoparticles in magnetic and particle resonance imaging, drug delivery systems, and hyperthermia treatment of tumors. The focus of this presentation is to show how magnetic techniques can be used in the material, life and environmental sciences.