Open AccessPalaeomagnetic study on Vesuvius lava flows
Author(s) -
Tiano Pasquale,
Incoronato Alberto,
Tarling Donald H.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
geophysical journal international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0956-540X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.2005.02768.x
Subject(s) - lava , geology , remanence , volcano , outcrop , rock magnetism , secular variation , seismology , demagnetizing field , thermoremanent magnetization , natural remanent magnetization , geophysics , magnetic mineralogy , petrology , magnetization , geomorphology , magnetic field , physics , quantum mechanics
SUMMARY A palaeomagnetic study on Vesuvius lava flows, emplaced after the 79 AD event, has been carried out in order to correlate and/or discriminate deposits and to verify their age of emplacement using the new SISVC (Southern Italy secular variation curve). Results from 18 sites located on the W, S and E slopes of the volcano, are presented. IRM (isothermal remanent magnetization), along three orthogonal directions, ARM (anhysteretic remanent magnetization), low field susceptibilities measurements and coercivity analyses have been carried out on three pilot specimens per each site in order to both identify the magnetic carriers and determine the magnetic grain sizes. The study of TRM (thermal remanent magnetization) of each investigated lava flow was carried out by subjecting each specimen to complete PTD (progressive thermal demagnetization). The primary directions were defined by linearity analysis following very stringent criteria. It is shown that three of the investigated lava flows, outcropping on the W–S slopes of the volcano, must be associated to the 1631 AD big eruption. This result widens the number of sites to be associated to this eruption, in accordance with previous palaeomagnetic works. The site mean direction of 1906 lava flow is anomalous with reference to the SISVC and further investigations are needed to clarify this point.