Remanence acquisition and its alteration on sediments

Abstract

Previous palaeomagnetic work shows that the mechanism of remanence acquisition on sediments is very complicated. Different magnetizing processes under different conditions may produce some anomalous magnetic signals which have nothing to do with the changes of the geomagnetic field and are difficult to explain. The depositional remanent magnetization (DRM) may produce an inclination error and a bedding error, while postdepositional remanent magnetization (PDRM) may result in a time delay between the magnetic and sedimentary ages. When there are some different magnetic phases with different lock-in depths in the sediments, it is difficult to judge the depth of the reversal or excursion, or even the artificial magnetic signal may be produced. Even if there is only one magnetic phase in the sediment, the recorded magnetic signals may also be different if the lock-in depth is changed comparative to the lasting period of one reversal or excursion. Demagnetization may also change the primary magnetic records and the changes of water content may result in the displacement of magnetic boundary. The so-called “unstable core”, representing subtle changes in mineralogy into and out of a self-reversal region or a viscous magnetization region, gives a complicated palaeornagnetic record with many apparent changes in the palaeomagnetic direction. Moreover, some physical disturbances, such as biodisturbance, deformation, drilling processes and drying effects, may result in the remanence alteration. Some palaeomagnetic investigations demonstrate that good magnetic signals are invariably achieved on homogenous mud or clay sediments, but the worse signals on inhomogeneous profiles, especially on sandy layers.