Variation of magnetic directions within pillow basalts

Relative directions of magnetization have been measured within individual pillow basalts collected from the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. The angle between the magnetic directions was determined and is referred to as the directional difference. Although one pillow contained a directional difference of 44°, the remaining ten pillows had differences less than 14°. The maximum orientation and measurement error was 7°. Dispersion on the scale found in these fine-grained pillow basalts would not appreciably affect the magnetic anomaly pattern on the sea floor. We detected no reversals of magnetization despite the sometimes large and variable low-temperature oxidation. Comparison of directions within homogeneous segments of the pillow, viscous remanent magnetization (VRM) acquisition experiments, and alternating field (AF) demagnetization indicate a large portion of the dispersion was due to the acquisition of a viscous component in the larger grained, less oxidized portion of the pillows. Evidence from one variably weathered pillow suggests that extreme low-temperature oxidation may lead to the acquisition of a secondary component with high coercivities (20–80 mT). We could not determine whether this was a chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) or a VRM acquired by single domain grains near the superparamagnetic threshold. Hysteresis properties confirmed by microscopic examination indicated that the magnetic grain size in all the pillows was at least as small as pseudo-single domain.     

Palaeomagnetic evidence for the origin of Madeira

The remanent magnetization of ‘basement’ volcanics from Madeira define three different axes of magnetization, each having a dual-polarity build-up. The suggested oldest of these components, with declination 302 and inclination +4, is assigned to the late Lower Cretaceous and is thought to reflect the age of the early volcanism of the island. Subsequent magnetization overprints seem to have occurred in the Late Cretaceous/Early Tertiary (minor) and in Neogene times, respectively. The latter magnetization, which is strongly developed, was most likely impressed during the extensive volcanism that swept the island in post-Late Miocene. The palaeomagnetic evidence for a Cretaceous origin of Madeira is supported by the finding of Lower-Middle Cretaceous tuff layers in DSDP site 136 which is located only 160 km north of the island. The inferred palaeomagnetic structure of the ‘basement’ rocks of Madeira is similar to that found in the old volcanic complexes of other east central Atlantic islands.     

A multicomponent,dual-polarity palaeomagnetic regional overprint from the Moine of northwest Scotland

Palaeomagnetic remanence may be reset by orogeny in a manner analogous to isotopic systems. The heavy mineral seams and associated psammite in the deformed and metamorphosed Lower Morar Division of the Moine Assemblage of northwest Scotland have a palaeomagnetic signature that is characteristic over a wide area. The various components of the magnetization are resolved by detailed thermal demagnetization. These components are post-tectonic, as they are not affected by any structural fabric. They may be classified according to blocking temperature and, when statistically distinguishable, show a systematic change of direction from high to lower temperature possibly associated with apparent polar wander. Comparison to the European palaeomagnetic record suggests a late Silurian to early Devonian age of magnetization for the localities south of the Strath Conon Fault. The distribution of remanance directions and blocking temperatures is not consistent with the pattern of potassium-argon ages in this part of the British Caledonides. If the magnetization is purely of thermal origin, the palaeomagnetic record indicates higher temperatures at later time than does the potassium-argon record. This remagnetization event is related to the closing stages of the Caledonian orogeny.     

Lower Jurassic palaeomagnetic results from Yorkshire,England, and their implications

Palaeomagnetic study of Middle Liassic siltstones shows a stable magnetization with a mean direction of D = 12.3°, I = 64.6° (N = 60, k = 26, α₉₅ = 3.9°) corresponding to a palaeomagnetic pole at 79.8°N, 125.6°E, similar to that for southern Germany and confirming predictions based on palaeogeographic reconstructions using North American data. Sideritic concretions of Lower Liassic age show a higher magnetic stability with a mean direction of D = 12.6°, I = 61.4° (N = 125, k = 50, α₉₅ = 1.8°) which is not significantly different from the siltstones. This confirms the sedimentological evidence that suggests that such concretions grew very shortly after deposition, i.e. within the Liassic, and suggests that similar concretions of other ages could thus be used for palaeomagnetic studies. Although the Liassic palaeomagnetic pole (76.9°N, 134.7°E), based on this work, appears valid it is still not possible to evaluate a sensible Mesozoic polar wandering curve for the North Atlantic bordering continents.     

Nature of magnetic grains and their effect on the remanent magnetization of basalts

The nature of magnetic grains in basalts obtained from different parts of the world has been investigated. Results indicate that magnetic behaviour attributable to cation-deficient magnetite is common in basalts younger than Cretaceous, while that due to multidomain magnetite is widespread in much older rocks. Superparamagnetic grains occur in basalts more abundantly than originally presumed, which seem to be mainly responsible for the viscous remanent magnetization of such samples. Basalts which are inferred to contain predominantly optimum single-domain grains are found to be most suitable for palaeomagnetic work. However, many samples generally contain a wide range of grain sizes and this can account for the observed variation in their magnetic stability. One possible mechanism for the formation of such magnetic grains in basalts and its implications to palaeomagnetism is presented. Basalts whose magnetic behaviour is completely reversible on heating and cooling are very rare and because of this fact the reliability of palaeointensity determinations, involving heating of the samples even for one time, may be reduced to a considerable extent.     

Magnetic properties of the Lower Old Red Sandstone lavas in the Midland Valley,Scotland; palaeomagnetic and tectonic considerations

Thermal demagnetization studies of lavas in the Strathmore area of the Midland Valley, Scotland, support overall palaeomagnetic data found in previous studies of these rocks. Reduced directional scatter as compared to some earlier studies, is attributed to more effective demagnetization, resolving some of the directional complexity of previous studies. Combined magnetic fabric and directional analysis suggest that at least some deviating directions may be explained by local tectonism. The existence of almost antiparallel directional groups and field tests give supporting evidence for a “primary” (deuteric) origin of the main magnetization of these rocks. Additionally, a second remanence component having shallow reverse directions of magnetization, is attributed to later remagnetization in Old Red Sandstone time. The Midland Valley results are seen in conjunction with other Palaeozoic palaeomagnetic results and possible geodynamic implications are discussed.     

Palaeomagnetic directions in Precambrian basic intrusives of the Mount Isa Province,Australia

Palaeomagnetic investigation of basic intrusives in the Proterozoic Mount Isa Province yields three groups of directions of stable components of NRM after magnetic cleaning in fields up to 50 mT (1 mT= 10 Oe). The youngest group (IA) includes results from the Lakeview Dolerite, and yields a palaeomagnetic pole at 12°S, 124°E (A₉₅ = 11°). The second group (IB) has a palaeomagnetic pole 53°S, 102°E (A₉₅ = 11°). The third group (IC) is derived from the Lunch Creek Gabbro and contains normal and reversed polarities of magnetization with a palaeomagnetic pole at 63°S, 201°E (A₉₅ = 9°). Some samples from the gabbro have anomalously low intensities of remanent magnetization in obscure directions attributed to the relative enhancement of the non-dipole component of the palaeomagnetic field during polarity reversal. The present attitude of the igneous lamination is probably of primary, not tectonic origin.     

How natural remanent magnetization of basaltic units can dominate the reduced to pole magnetic value: A case study from the Faroe Islands

Early attempts to utilize magnetic data to understand the volcanic and subvolcanic succession on the Faroese Continental Shelf have shown that conventional interpretation and modelling of magnetic data from this area leads to ambiguous results. Interpretation of the aeromagnetic data on the Faroese Continental Shelf shows that some previously identified basement highs coincide with reduced-to-pole magnetic highs, whereas others coincide with negative or mixed magnetic features. Similarly, igneous centres are characterized by different polarity magnetic anomalies. Palaeomagnetic analysis of the onshore volcanic succession has demonstrated that the thermoremanent magnetization of the basaltic lavas is stronger than the induced magnetism, and both reversely and normally magnetized units are present. We have tested this with 2½D profile modelling using the palaeomagnetic information to correlate high-amplitude magnetic anomalies with basalt successions containing changes in magnetic polarity. This approach has enabled us to map the termination of the differently magnetized units offshore and thereby extend the mapping of the Faroe Island Basalt Group on the Faroese Platform and into adjacent areas.     

Magnetic signatures related to orogenic gold mineralization,Central Lapland Greenstone Belt,Finland

A number of lode–gold occurrences are hosted by hydrothermally altered greenstones along the southern boundary of the Palaeoproterozoic Central Lapland Greenstone Belt. The hydrothermally altered and mineralised zones are related to a major thrust and shear zone system that extends much across northern Finland. Spatial correlation between mineralized zones, brittle structural features and chemical alteration was explored and identified from high-resolution aeromagnetic data, in combination with airborne electromagnetic and gamma-ray spectrometric data and coupled with petrophysical and palaeomagnetic studies. The most prominent magnetic, ductile signatures formed during the Svecofennian Orogeny (1900–1800 Ma), resulting in elastic, curved, continuous magnetic patterns. These elastic anomaly patterns were disturbed by tectonic stress from S–SW, resulting in parallel, regularly oriented fracture families and thrust faults normal to the main stress direction. According to aeromagnetic, palaeomagnetic and structural evidence, the thrust zone was active during the latest stage of the orogenic event, but was also reactivated at a later date. Airborne gamma-ray data reveals zones of potassic alteration in the ultramafic rock units in the vicinity of cross-sections of these two fault sets. Chemical and mineralogical changes during alteration and metamorphism strongly affected the mafic and ultramafic host rocks throughout the deformation zone. The strong potassium enrichment and coinciding destruction of magnetic minerals resulted in enhanced potassium concentration and reduction of magnetic anomaly amplitudes. Palaeomagnetic results indicate that the remanent magnetization for the altered ultramafic rocks along the thrust zone is of chemical origin (CRM) and was acquired at 1880–1840 Ma, which is presumed also to be the age of the chemical alteration related to gold mineralization.     

Rotation history of Chios Island, Greece since the Middle Miocene

Superimposed on a regional pattern of oroclinal bending in the Aegean and west Anatolian regions, the coastal region of western Anatolia, shows a complex and chaotic pattern of coexisting clockwise and counterclockwise rotations. Here, we report new palaeomagnetic data from the eastern Aegean island of Chios, to test whether this fits the regional palaeomagnetic pattern associated with the Aegean orocline, or should be included in the narrow zone of chaotic palaeomagnetic directions. Therefore, a combined palaeomagnetic study of Miocene sediments and volcanic rocks has been carried out. Thermal and AF demagnetization of a 130-m thick Middle Miocene succession from the Michalos claypit allowed a stable component of both polarities to be isolated while rock magnetic experiments showed that the main magnetic carrier is magnetite. When compared with the Eurasian reference, the mean declination of 348 ± 5.1° implies 15° of counterclockwise rotation since Middle Miocene times. The obtained shallow inclination of 38 ± 6.7° was corrected to 61.8 ± 3.9°, by applying the elongation/inclination correction method for inclination shallowing. This result is similar to the expected inclination of 58° for the latitude of Chios. The palaeomagnetic analysis (demagnetization treatment and corresponding rock magnetic measurements) of the volcanic rocks identify a stable, predominantly normal, ChRM with poorly constrained mean declination of about 290 ± 19.8° based on five successfully resolved components. The significantly different palaeomagnetic results obtained from an island as small as Chios (and a very short distance), and the relatively large rotation amounts do not fit the regional palaeomagnetic direction of Lesbos and basins in northwestern Turkey which show little or no significant rotation. We thus prefer to include Chios in the coastal zone of chaotic rotations, which may represent a previously inferred tectonic transfer zone that accommodates lateral differences in extensional strain within the Aegean back-arc.     

油气田钻井岩芯及岩芯裂缝方位确定的古地磁原理与方法

岩石在现代地磁场中获得的粘滞乘磁可以通过分离乘磁低温分量获得，并且它与现代地磁场方向一致，因此，通过提取岩芯乘磁的低温分量，可以恢复岩芯的现代磁坐标，进而确定岩芯在现代地理坐标中的位置，本文对吐哈油田，长庆油田岩芯及地表露头样品作了系统热磁分析，讨论了乘磁低温分量与现代地磁场关系，建立了岩芯方位古地磁学定向方法。并将这种方法用于长庆油田钻井岩芯定向及裂缝方位确定，通过对长庆油田４０口井的含裂缝岩芯     

Recent seismicity of southeastern Ghana

Recent studies of DSDP samples from layer 2A of oceanic basement have found complex magnetic stratigraphies that seem incompatible with the frequent existence of linear short-wavelength anomalies caused by palaeomagnetic field behavior. Statistical models are developed for the lateral variation of the average magnetization of layer 2A: a Poisson series for reversals of the earth's field and a stairstep random series for discrete magnetic units. It is shown with the power-density spectra of these statistical models that lateral inhomogeneities must average out over distances of less than a few hundred meters. Specifically, individual magnetic units of the type seen at DSDP Site 332 cannot extend uniformly for distances greater than a few hundred meters.     

La de´termination de l'aimantation re´manente visqueuse et le test de E. et O. Thellier applique´ aux roches

A method is described for measurement of the magnetic viscosity of rocks, which is considered in its three forms: induced magnetization viscosity, remanent magnetization viscosity and viscous remanent magnetization. An application is then presented in the form of an experimental verification of the E. and O. Thellier test of approximate elimination of the viscous magnetization effect in rocks. It is shown that, used in the conventional manner, the employment of this test is fully justified, although not allowing measurement of the VRM, the values obtained being seriously underestimated.     

Geophysical observations on an exposed seamount in the Afar Depression

Topographic, magnetic and gravity surveys have been made over an extinct volcano in the Afar Depression. Previous work showed that this volcano was formed under water. Gravity measurements over the volcano indicate that a positive mass contrast of 1 gm. cm^?3 is required below the volcano, which could be explained by the density contrast between a basalt plug and surrounding sediments. There is no observable magnetic anomaly over the volcano. The hyaloclastites of which the volcano is mainly composed have magnetization which is small in intensity but consistent in direction with the Earth’s magnetic field. Basalt cobbles which are present in small quantities have a fairly high intensity of magnetization but directions which bear no relationship to the direction of the Earth’s field. The absence of a magnetic anomaly suggests that the basalt plug below the volcano must have been sufficiently brecciated so that random rotations of portions of the plug have occurred, thus reducing the mean magnetization, and explaining the absence of a magnetic anomaly.     

Palaeomagnetism and KAr age of Mesozoic and Cenozoic igneous rocks from Antarctica

A new analysis of palaeomagnetic data for igneous rocks from Deception Island, 25 de Mayo Island (King George Island) and Cape Spring, are given.K-Ar age determinations indicate that most of the igneous samples from 25 de Mayo Island included in the palaeomagnetic study are of Late Mesozoic/Early Tertiary age. The significance of these palaeomagnetic-radiometric data on the hypothesis of oroclinal bending of the Antarctic Peninsula and on the apparent polar movement of Antarctica is discussed.The positions of palaeomagnetic poles for the Andean igneous complex indicate that there has not been any apparent post-Late Cretaceous/Early Tertiary oroclinal bending in the Antarctic Peninsula from 74°S to 62°S.A comparison of the positions of palaeomagnetic poles for Antarctica and Australia suggests that the direction of apparent polar movement relative to Antarctica reversed after the Miocene.     

Lower- and middle-triassic palaeomagnetic analysis from southern Tunisia

From Lower- and Middle-Triassic formations (respectively, the Sidi Stout and the Kirchaou sandstones) in southern Tunisia, 13 sites have been chosen for a palaeomagnetic study. In spite of the presence of two antiparallels, normal and reverse clusters of stable magnetization directions, the magnetization carried by these rocks results from a relatively recent remagnetization.     

Magnetic properties of natural Mn-oxides

Summary The paper is devoted to the study of the magnetic properties, of the volume magnetic susceptibility in a weak magnetic field, of the specific magnetic susceptibility in a strong magnetic field, of natural remanent magnetization and its stability in A.C. fields, and of the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility of natural Mn-oxides. Samples of pyrolusite, polianite, manganite, hausmannite, psilomelan and wad from different localities all over the world were studied; the measured values are statistically treated so that the given values are valid in general. Hausmannite displayed typical values of the magnetic susceptibility, different from the values of the other Mn-oxides. In general, many natural Mn-oxides contain heterogeneous admixtures of Fe-oxides, which are responsible for their ferromagnetic properties. A high degree of magnetic hardness, predetermining the minerals for palaeomagnetic research, was proved with many of the natural Mn-oxides.     

Late Mesozoic palaeomagnetism from Spitsbergen; implications for continental drift in the Arctic

Thermal and alternating-current demagnetization combined with ore microscopy and measurements of the temperature dependence of saturation magnetization have been carried out on some Mesozoic, probably Cretaceous, basaltic lavas from two areas (Seidfjell and Sørlifjell) at Spitsbergen. The experimental studies suggest that the Seidfjell locality has undergone extensive oxidations, which resulted in remagnetization. The estimated palaeomagnetic pole for this area is 77°N 107°E, which suggests a remagnetization, probably some time in the Late Tertiary. On the other hand the experimental data from the Sørlifjell locality suggest that the magnetization is primarily of deuteric origin. The mean palaeomagnetic pole position for this latter formation is at 75°N 235°E, which is significantly different from previously published European Mesozoic data. However, closing the Neo-Arctic basin by rotating Spitsbergen towards the Lomonosov Ridge, makes the suggested Cretaceous pole coincide with poles of similar age from North-America. This suggests that the estimated pole from Sørlifjell is a good approximation for a Late Mesozoic palaeomagnetic pole for Europe and it also confirms that the process of continental separation in the Arctic has taken place in Tertiary time.     

Rift tectonics development in the light of geophysical data: Red sea region

Summary The paper discusses geophysical phenomena observed over tholeiitic dykes detected in the Eastern Desert of Egypt (Nubian Block). The dykes show specific physical properties and are either normally or reversely polarized along their whole length over 120 km. Dykes of similar properties may also be interpreted from airborne geophysical maps in Saudi Arabia (Arabian Block). Magnetic fields of the tholeiitic dykes were interpreted quantitatively: they fit the magnetic pattern over the Red Sea. The study emphasizes those geophysical phenomena which may serve as criteria for recognition of regions with rift tectonics development.