viscous remanent magnetization [`vis·kǝs `rem·ǝ·nǝnt ´mag·nǝd·ǝ`zā·shǝn] GEOPHYSICS A process in which grains of magnetic minerals, which are either too small or too finely divided by undergrowths of different chemical composition to retain a permanent magnetization indefinitely, acquire a new direction of magnetization when the direction of the earth's magnetic field changes. Abbreviated VRM. Also known as viscous magnetization. |