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Paleomagnetism of varved sediments from western New England: Variability of the paleomagnetic recorder
Author(s) -
Verosub Kenneth L.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl006i004p00241
Subject(s) - paleomagnetism , earth's magnetic field , geology , declination , varve , secular variation , geomagnetic secular variation , sedimentary rock , paleontology , geophysics , archaeomagnetic dating , sedimentary depositional environment , magnetic declination , horizon , natural remanent magnetization , sediment , geodesy , remanence , magnetic field , magnetization , physics , quantum mechanics , astronomy , structural basin , geomagnetic storm
Comparison of the paleomagnetic directions recorded by varved sediments in western New England has provided a means of determining the inherent variability of the paleomagnetic recorder of depositional detrital remanent magnetism. Although a given varve has a stable, well‐defined direction of magnetization, successive sampling horizons at the same site as well as the same sampling horizon at different sites may show variations of as much as 8° in inclination and 15° in declination. This variability is attributed not to the secular variation of the geomagnetic field but rather to the physical factors which can influence the magnetic direction recorded by a sediment. Since the time scale for changes in these factors is comparable to the time scale for changes of the geomagnetic field, it may not always be possible to distinguish the true variation of the geomagnetic field from the variability of the paleomagnetic recorder. In certain circumstances correlation of sedimentary sequences on the basis of apparent secular variation will thus be impossible.