Hysteresis loops describe the magnetic response of a sample exposed to a magnetic field. The shape of a hysteresis loop can be diagnostic of the mineralogy of the sample (Channell and MCCABE, 1994; Tauxe, 1993). Ferrimagnetic minerals tend to produce narrow loops, whereas the presence of antiferromagnetic minerals causes hysteresis loops to be wider. Hysteresis parameters can also be used to estimate magnetic grain size (Day et al., 1977). When measuring a hysteresis loop, the sample is exposed to a maximum field Bmax and its magnetization (M) is measured as the field is reduced to zero, and increased again in the opposite direction all the way to the maximum Bmax. The REMANENCE measured at zero fields is equivalent to IRM. The field BC necessary to reduce the magnetization to zero is called the coercive force, and can be used to estimate the bulk coercivity of the sample. At high fields, the CURVE M(B) becomes linear and the increase in M is due to the presence of para- or diamagnetic minerals. This high field slope is known as high-field paramagnetic susceptibility. The saturation magnetization, MS, of a sample can be calculated from a hysteresis loop by extrapolating the linear high-field part of the loop back to B = 0. MS is a function of all magnetic minerals (ferri- and antiferromagnetic) present in a sample.Hysteresis loops can be measured either in a maximum field of 1250 mT, using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), or in a maximum field of 5 T, using a Quantum Design MPMS-2 magnetic-properties measurement system, equipped with a superconducting magnet. These high fields are necessary to fully SATURATE SAMPLES. Coercive force (BC), SIRM, and saturation magnetization (MS) can be measured using Quantum Design MPMS-2 magnetic-properties measurement system.