A precursor to the Matuyama-Brunhes reversal in Chinese loess and its palaeomagnetic and stratigraphic significance

Abstract

We report high-resolution palaeomagnetic results across the lower part of S8 in the Luochuan area, northwest of China using parallel subsets samples. A palaeomagnetic anomaly with low palaeointensity and disordered magnetic direction was identified ∼21 ka prior to the Matuyama–Brunhes (MB) polarity reversal, and is consistent with the MB precursor observed from marine sediments and lava flows. This is the first convincing report of the MB precursor in terrestrial material (Chinese loess), which attests the global feature of the MB precursor. Constrained by the stratigraphic position of both the MB polarity reversal and the MB precursor, the loess unit L8 and palaeosol unit S8 of the Chinese loess sequence are undoubtedly tied to the marine isotope stages 18 and 19, respectively. This correlation is critical for an accurate understanding of the correspondences of palaeomagnetic records between the Chinese loess and marine sediments.