Palaeomagnetic Data Research Articles

Geomagnetic field variations in the past: an introduction

Abstract In the last decades, palaeomagnetic research has provided us with a picture of the temporal and spatial behaviour of the Earth's magnetic field (EMF) from its origin up to the present day. Well-dated palaeomagnetic data offer important sources of information about the past variation of the geomagnetic field and have shown that it is characterized by temporal fluctuations such as reversals, excursions and spikes. Despite the advances in our understanding of EMF behaviour, the current dataset is biased towards high and northern latitudes and, therefore, several questions remain open to debate, such as the origin and evolution of the EMF and the frequency and spatial distribution of its variations. This Special Publication focuses on the study of the temporal and spatial evolution of the EMF in the past through new data from palaeomagnetic and rock magnetic studies of archaeological materials, sediments and lavas from Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, India and Baltic Sea, and their applications in archaeology, stratigraphy and climate. This paper summarizes our current knowledge on geomagnetic field variations in the past, open questions and future challenges and gives an overview of the volume's context, which aims to disclose fundamental properties of the Earth's magnetic field evolution.

Palaeomagnetic assessment of tectonic rotation in Northeast Asia：implications for the coupling of intracontinental deformation and mantle convection

ABSTRACT Knowledge of the displacement history of the series of continental fragments in Northeast Asia is key to understanding the plate kinematic evolution of the western peri-Pacific tectonic domain. Palaeomagnetism is an effective approach for deciphering the horizontal movements of crustal elements, especially vertical-axis rotations. Here we present a set of new palaeomagnetic data from Lower Cretaceous volcanic rocks from the northeastern part of the North China Block (NCB), and from Lower Cretaceous sedimentary and volcaniclastic rocks from the Bureya-Jiamusi-Khanka terrane. The data suggest that the northeastern NCB crustal elements underwent a clockwise motion relative to the Eurasian continent after the Early Cretaceous, and in addition a substantial counterclockwise deformation component is observed in the Bureya-Jiamusi-Khanka terrane. Combined with the results of previous Cretaceous and Cenozoic palaeomagnetic studies, we suggest that the northeast part of the North China Block and the Korean Peninsula experienced ~20° of clockwise rotation during the Cenozoic. However, the Bureya-Jiamusi-Khanka terrane and its eastern neighbouring Pacific-related accretionary terranes, such as the Sikhote-Alin Orogenic belt, however, underwent a contemporaneous 40°counter-clockwise rotation. The Japanese Islands, with juvenile crust in the easternmost part of Asia, were divided into a pair of terranes, which rotated in opposite directions during the Middle Miocene. The opposing senses of rotation are attributed to mantle wedge convection. We suggest that tectonic rotations of parts of Northeast Asia are controlled by the subduction of the western Pacific Plate via lithospheric deep-shallow coupling. The two critical events were coeval with ridge subduction of the Izanagi-Pacific mid-ocean ridge under the continental margin during the Palaeocene, and the collision of the Izu-Bonin and Japanese Islands during the Middle Miocene, respectively.

The Upper Pliocene – Quaternary geological history of the Shirak Basin (NE Turkey and NW Armenia) and estimation of the Quaternary uplift of Lesser Caucasus

Stratigraphy, structure, and tectonics of the Turkish part of the intermontane Shirak Basin and the adjacent Susuz Basin were studied based on methods of structural geology, geological and geomorphological correlation, paleontology, paleomagnetism, and archaeology. For the first time, the Pliocene-Quaternary stratigraphy and tectonics of the western Turkish and eastern Armenian parts of the Shirak Basin were correlated. Sedimentary cover of the western part of the basin consists of four units: the Lower Akchagylian (Piacenzian) marine deposits, Karakhach, Ani, and Arapi lacustrine-alluvial units. The Upper Pliocene age of the former formation in the Demirkent section is evidenced by normal palaeomagnetic signature and dinocysts of the Akchagylian aspect with some forms known to have a highest stratigraphic datum near the Pliocene–Quaternary boundary. The age of the Karakhach unit is estimated at 1.9–1.7 Ma based on similar geomorphological position and composition with corresponding deposits in Armenia, normal polarity, and a record of the Early Palaeolithic artefact. The dating of the Ani unit to the Calabrian, and the Arapi unit to the lower Middle Pleistocene is evidenced by assemblages of molluscs and small mammals, Acheulian artefacts, palaeomagnetic data, and geomorphological position similar to the correlated sedimentary sequences in the Armenian part of the basin.The level of the Akchagylian brackish water basin at the Neogene–Quaternary boundary (2.58 Ma) was close to the recent oceanic level. The recent altitude of the top of the Lower Akchagylian deposits in the Demirkent section is 1565 m. This defines the average rate of the Quaternary uplift in this part of Lesser Caucasus at 0.6 mm/year. The Shirak Basin is bounded and ruptured by fault and flexure-fault zones. Because of offsets on the Çamuşlu and Akhuryan zones, the central part of the northern Shirak Basin is subsided relative to the Demirkent section at 130–165 m. The movements in the Çarçioğlu zone caused a 100–120 m rise of the Ani unit surface in the Susuz Basin relative to the adjacent part of the Shirak Basin. The north-western border of the Susuz Basin is uplifted on the Sarikamiş fault zone. Thus, the Quaternary uplift ranges near 0.6 ± 0.1 mm/year. To the north of the Shirak Basin, in the Upper Akhuryan and Lori Basins and the Debed River valley, the rate of uplift during 0.65–0.6 Ma is estimated at about 1 mm/year and the adjacent Bazum and Javakheti Ridges rose more intensively. Therefore, the uplift could accelerate during the time interval of 0.65–0.6 Ma.

Karst sediments in Slovenia: Plio-Quaternary multi-proxy records

We synthesize information on results and age of cave sediments from Slovenia. The studied sites were mostly from the Classical Karst which is situated in the NW part of Dinarides and some from the Slovenian Southern Alps. Protected in caves, sediments are generally well preserved and reveal an exceptionally good, multi-proxy record of surface environmental conditions at the time of their deposition. Here we describe results of the systematic acquisition of palaeomagnetic data within individual segments of studied sediment sections with special focus on relict and unroofed caves. In intervals with polarity change, the frequency of sampling was so high that almost continuous records of rockmagnetic and palaeomagnetic parameters were obtained. The construction of high-resolution magnetostratigraphic profile supported magnetostratigraphy correlations among profiles. Palaeomagnetic and magnetostratigraphy results were calibrated by relative, numerical, calibrated and correlated dating methods, where possible. Age sequences were compiled from spatially and temporally highly discontinuous sediment records covering different ages within the Cenozoic era. The robust chronology was constructed. Calibrated data contributed to the interpretation of speleogenesis, deposition mechanism in caves, and indirectly to the time of karst evolution and the succession of tectonic phases and climate changes. The research indicated that most of sediments in relict and unroofed caves are up to 5 Ma old which contrasts to the traditional concept of Pleistocene age of cave sediments and that caves themselves are not much older. Cave sediments have proven to be an important source of information on depositional style in caves which indirectly reflected the evolution of the surrounding landscape especially the evolution of catchment areas – i.e. climatic changes with flood events or/and changes of the tectonic regimes during Cenozoic.

Refined 3600 years palaeointensity curve for Mexico

Our knowledge of the Earth's magnetic field intensity changes over the past few thousand years is still limited because of the uneven spatial and temporal distribution of data, which also includes the Americas. The present study reports 41 new palaeointensity data covering the past 3600 years which, together with 38 previously published data of similar quality, are used to construct a palaeointensity secular variation curve for Central Mexico. These new data are an important contribution to the global intensity database and will also improve the application of palaeomagnetic dating in Mexico, which is of interest because of the many Holocene monogenetic volcanoes within the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, and of its archaeological heritage. The most conspicuous feature of the new intensity curve is the rapid increase between 400 and 250 BCE, from about 45 to 65 μT. Other relative intensity highs of ≈45–55 μT were found around 1600 BCE, 370 CE, and 1200 CE and relative intensity lows of ≈30–35 μT around 1350 BCE and 700 CE. Comparing the virtual axial dipole moment of our intensity curve with global VADM-VDM dipole estimates indicates that non-dipole components in Central Mexico have been observed at several times from 1600 BCE to 1000 CE while the dipole field was prevalent from 1000 to 1800 CE. A comparison of our results with selected data from southern USA shows a significant difference between the two regions which indicates an important nondipole feature of the magnetic field during the last few thousands of years, and/or undetected problems in the age/palaeointensity data accuracy.

Geochronological and palaeomagnetic investigation of the Madiyi Formation, lower Banxi Group, South China: Implications for Rodinia reconstruction

New geochronological and palaeomagnetic data are presented for the Madiyi Formation of the lower Banxi Group in the South China Block (SCB). Zircon U–Pb dating of two tuff beds within the sampled section yielded consistent ages of 801.9 ± 6.3 Ma and 804.6 ± 9.6 Ma. A total of 137 palaeomagnetic samples were collected and thermally stepwise demagnetized. Three components were isolated. Component A was identified in 30 samples below 300 °C. It has a mean direction resembling the recent geomagnetic field, and is interpreted of recent viscous remanent magnetization. Component B, typically isolated below ~660 °C, yields a pole in situ close to the Cretaceous poles of the SCB and is interpreted as a Cretaceous overprint. Component C was identified in 90 samples, determined in the high-temperature steps between 660 and 690 °C. It yielded a mean direction of Ds = 293.1°, Is = 69.9° (k = 22.3, α95 = 3.2°) after tilt correction, corresponding to a palaeopole of 35.3°N, 67.9°E (dp = 5.5°, dm = 4.7°) and palaeolatitude of 53.8 +4.9/−4.7°N for the study area. Inclination correction using an empirical flattening factor f = 0.6 yielded a corrected mean direction of Ds* = 293.0°, Is* = 77.3° (k = 51.4, α95 = 2.1°), corresponding to a palaeopole of 34.3°N, 82.4°E (dp = 3.9°, dm = 3.7°) and palaeolatitude of 65.7 +3.7/−3.6°. Component C records five polarity zones and passes a reversal test. The pole diverges from all younger poles of the SCB, and is interpreted to be of primary remanent magnetization. Our results reveal a high-latitude position of the SCB at ~800 Ma. Comparing with other two poles from the Xiaofeng dykes (~821 Ma) and Yanbian dykes (~824 Ma) reveals no significant latitudinal difference for the SCB between ~820 and 800 Ma. However, coeval poles from the global palaeomagnetic database, along with geological evidence, indicate that East Svalbard, Australia and Laurentia were located around the equator at ~800 Ma. The striking difference in palaeolatitude suggests that the SCB was unlikely to be located between southeastern Australia and western Laurentia in the Rodinia supercontinent at ~800 Ma.

Publisher Correction: Burma Terrane part of the Trans-Tethyan arc during collision with India according to palaeomagnetic data

Publisher Correction: Burma Terrane part of the Trans-Tethyan arc during collision with India according to palaeomagnetic data

Burma Terrane part of the Trans-Tethyan Arc during collision with India according to palaeomagnetic data.

Convergence between the Indian and Asian plates has reshaped large parts of Asia, changing regional climate and biodiversity. Yet geodynamic models fundamentally diverge on how convergence was accommodated since the India-Asia collision. Here we report paleomagnetic data from the Burma Terrane, at the eastern edge of the collision zone and famous for its Cretaceous amber biota, to better determine the evolution of the India-Asia collision. The Burma Terrane was part of a Trans-Tethyan island arc and stood at a near-equatorial southern latitude at ~95 Ma, suggesting island endemism for the Burmese amber biota. The Burma Terrane underwent significant clockwise rotation between ~80-50 Ma, causing its subduction margin to become hyper-oblique. Subsequently, it was translated northward on the Indian Plate, by an exceptional distance of at least 2000 km, along a dextral strike-slip fault system in the east. Our reconstructions are only compatible with geodynamic models involving a first collision of India with a near-equatorial Trans-Tethyan subduction system at ~60 Ma, followed by a later collision with the Asian margin.

Vaalbara Palaeomagnetism

Vaalbara is the name given to a proposed configuration of continental blocks—the Kaapvaal craton (southern Africa) and the Pilbara craton (north-western Australia)—thought to be the Earth’s oldest supercraton assemblage. Its temporal history is poorly defined, but it has been suggested that it was stable for at least 400 million years, between 3.1 and 2.7 Ga. Here, we present an updated analysis that shows that the existence of a single supercraton between ∼2.9 and ∼2.7 Ga is inconsistent with the available palaeomagnetic data.

Palaeomagnetism of Late Triassic volcanic rocks from the western margin of Khorat Basin, Thailand and its implication for ambiguous inclination shallowing in Mesozoic sediments of Indochina

SUMMARY Palaeomagnetic constraints are essential factors in the reconstruction of the Mesozoic convergence of Eastern Asia blocks. As one of the key blocks, Indochina was constrained only by sedimentary-rocks-derived palaeomagnetic data. To evaluate whether the palaeomagnetic data used to restore the Late Triassic position of Indochina suffered inclination shallowing effects, we conducted a palaeomagnetic and geochronologic study on a coeval volcanic clastic rocks sequence in the western margin of the Khorat Basin, Thailand. The U-Pb SIMS dating on zircons indicates the age of the sampling section is between 205.1 ± 1.5 and 204.7 ± 1.4 Ma. Site mean directions are Dg/Ig = 217.2°/−39.4° (κg = 45.1, α95g = 10.1°) before and Ds/Is = 209.2°/−44.5° (κs = 43.8, α95s = 10.2°) after tilt correction. The new data set indicates a positive reversal test result at ‘Category C’ level. The characteristic remanent magnetization recorded by the coexistent magnetite and hematite is interpreted to be primary remanence acquired during the initial cooling of the volcanic clastic rocks. The consistence of the corresponding palaeolatitudes derived from the volcanic clastic rocks and the former reported sedimentary rocks suggests that there is probably no significant inclination shallowing bias in the sedimentary-rocks-derived palaeomagnetic data. Therefore, the estimates of the Late Triassic position of Indochina are confirmed to be reliable. The Indochina Block had collided to the southern margin of Eurasia by the Late Triassic and played an important role in the Mesozoic convergence of the Eastern Asia blocks.

Mechanism of rift flank uplift and escarpment formation evidenced by Western Ghats, India

The Western Ghats is one of the largest escarpments on earth, containing Reunion plume derived Deccan Traps, it is an excellent example to probe epeirogenic uplift, extension and subsidence in volcanic continental margins. The most continuous unbiased stratigraphic section of basalt down to the basement within a 1250 m drill hole of the Continental Scientific Deep Drilling Project is a valuable resource to investigate the above aspects. The flows across the entire drill core are geologically subaerial in character with basement exposed ~300 m below the mean sea level; they clearly display more evolved compositions from primary melts of mantle in terms of petrology, and only a single geomagnetic polarity transition in palaeomagnetic data. These results, combined with existing geological and geophysical data, constitute a multi-method approach that demonstrates (a) igneous underplating caused uplift prior to frequently suggested flexural isostasy (b) plume impact and eruption are near-simultaneous and extension/rifting essentially followed soon after volcanism and (c) lithosphere beneath the continental margin, while returning to normal temperatures following the Seychelles-India breakup, experienced thermal collapse and subsidence causing slumping of basalt basement below sea level.

On palaeomagnetic dating of fluvial deposits in the section of Neporotove gravel quarry on the Middle Dniester

The paper presents the results of palaeomagnetic studies of Quaternary noncemented deposits from the section of Neporotove on the VIIIth terrace of the Dniester River valley with abnormal thickness (more than 20 m) of the channel alluvium near the village of Neporotove, located on the right bank of the Dniester River. Alluvial facies of river terraces’ deposits are valuable palaeogeographic archives but not quite complete. They are affected by denudation and often do not contain fossils. The possible way for their dating is provided by a palaeomagnetic method performed on suitable for sampling underlying and overlying beds. The alluvial sequence consists of four units. Unit I is composed of inclined gravel-pebble layers with the sand filler with a visible thickness of about 8 m. Unit II has bedded over the denudated surface of Unit I; it consists of light-yellow laminated aleurit loam, 5-30 cm thick underlaid by 0.5-1.5 bed of fine sand. We consider Unit II to be lacustrine deposits accumulated in quiet water. Unit III is represented with inclined or sub-horizontally layered gravel-pebble-boulder deposits with up to 10 m of visible thickness. It includes boulders and blocks of sedimentary rocks up to 1.0 in diameter, considered as drop-stones. In the roof of the gravel-pebble Unit III, there is the white carbonate layer, probably, the illuvial horizon of the palaeosol (mr1), which transited up into the brownish-red horizon A (Unit IV). Unit IV – dark-red sandy-gravel horizon, pedosediment, probably partly the reworked material washed into ice wages in the roof of Unit III. As a result of alternating field stepwise demagnetisation of natural remanence of sediments, we determined that loamy Unit II, which separates members of gravel stratum, and sandy Unit IV, which overlays packs of gravel alluvium, bear characteristic remanent magnetisation (RM) with normal geomagnetic polarity. Taking into consideration lithology and two-fold structure of terrace gravel alluvium as well as palaeomagnetic results, we assume the lacustrine deposits of Unit II was formed during Jaramillo palaeomagnetic subchron corresponding to the end of Shyrokyne Stage, and a pedosediment of Unit IV was formed during Martonosha Stage. The upper alluvial suite of a terrace (Unit III) was generally deposited during a cold stage,directly prior to the onset of lacustrine loam sedimentation, while the lower alluvial member (Unit I) dates from the preceding warm stage. Thus, we defined the geological age of the whole channel alluvium strata of the VIIIth Dniester terrace as Shyrokyne-Pryazovya Stage.

Palaeomagnetic dating of hydrothermal alteration in the Woodford Shale, Oklahoma, USA

AbstractAn oriented Woodford Shale core from the eastern Ardmore Basin was sampled to test if the shale was an open or closed system to hydrothermal fluids, and to determine the timing of alteration. Mineralized fractures are ubiquitous in the core, and the shale exhibits a complex paragenesis with multiple hydrothermal minerals, including biotite, magnesite, norsethite, gorceixite and potassium feldspar present in and around the fractures. These minerals suggest that the Woodford Shale was an open system during part of its diagenetic history. Vitrinite reflectance (Ro) measurements indicate values of ∼1.81 % (∼230 °C). Palaeomagnetic analysis reveals a characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) with south-southeasterly declinations and shallow inclinations that resides in magnetite. This ChRM is interpreted to be either a chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) or a thermochemical remanent magnetization (TCRM) that was acquired at 245 ± 10 Ma during Late Permian time based on the pole position (51.0° N, 115.6° E). Because the palaeomagnetic specimens show evidence of extensive hydrothermal alteration, the CRM/TCRM is interpreted to date the migration of hydrothermal fluids through the shale. The agreement in timing with other studies that report hydrothermal alteration in southern Oklahoma and the Ouachita Mountains in Late Permian time, suggest that there were post-collisional fluid-flow events which accessed reservoirs of warm fluids.

Breaking the Grenville–Sveconorwegian link in Rodinia reconstructions

AbstractThe Grenville, Sveconorwegian, and Sunsas orogens are typically inferred to reflect collision between Laurentia, Baltica, and Amazonia at ca. 1.0 Ga, forming a central portion of the Rodinia supercontinent. This triple‐junction configuration is often nearly identical in otherwise diverse Rodinia reconstructions. However, available geological data suggest that although the Grenville and Sveconorwegian provinces shared a similar tectonic evolution from pre‐1.8 to ca. 1.5 Ga, they record distinctly different tectonic histories leading up to, during, and possibly following Grenville–Sveconorwegian orogenesis. Moreover, palaeomagnetic data suggest the two continents were separated at peak orogenesis, further invalidating any direct correlation. A number of possible interpretations are permissible with available geological and palaeomagnetic data, of which a “classic” triple‐junction configuration appears least likely. In contrast to the commonly inferred intertwined Proterozoic evolution of Baltica and Laurentia, the possibility remains that they were unrelated for a billion years between 1.5 and 0.45 Ga.

Archaeomagnetism of burnt cherts and hearths from Middle Palaeolithic Amud Cave, Israel: Tools for reconstructing site formation processes and occupation history

Apart from magnetostratigraphy, archaeomagnetism is rarely used in Middle and Late Pleistocene sites. Here we present detailed palaeomagnetic analyses of cemented hearths and burnt chert items from Amud Cave, Israel (68–55 ka) - two types of materials common in Levantine Middle Palaeolithic cave sites. Both materials are shown to be recorders of the geomagnetic field and were used to reconstruct either the ancient field direction (for cemented hearths) or intensity (palaeointensity) (for chert) at the time of the last burning or shortly after. We test the utility of palaeomagnetic data to further our understanding of temporal aspects of occupations in the cave by comparing the dispersion of the palaeomagnetic data to the known characteristics of geomagnetic secular variation in the Holocene. We show that divergent palaeointensities can help identify diachronic burning events, suggesting different activity patterns in two areas of the cave. Additionally, we used palaeomagnetic directional vectors to distinguish between a well-preserved hearth and one that had been mixed prior to cementation. Using rock magnetic investigations, we demonstrate that magnetic methods can be used as a relatively fast and inexpensive method to identify burning of cherts in antiquity above 500 °C. The palaeomagnetic results are in agreement with results of previous studies at Amud Cave, obtained by other independent methods. This study shows that palaeomagnetic methods can serve as a powerful tool in the study of Palaeolithic sites.

Comparative Lower-Middle Ordovician conodont oxygen isotope palaeothermometry of the Argentine Precordillera and Laurentian margins

Stratigraphic, palaeontologic, and palaeomagnetic data support a hypothesis that argues for the Argentine Precordillera rifting from the southwestern margin of Laurentia in low latitudes during the Cambrian, migrating across the Iapetus Ocean, colliding with the Gondwanan margin in the late Middle Ordovician, and receiving glaciogenic sediments in the Late Ordovician. An alternative model proposes that the Precordillera originated as a low-latitude segment of Gondwana, migrated southward through major transform faulting toward high latitudes in the late Middle Ordovician, to reach its present position in the Devonian. New conodont oxygen isotope compositions (δ18Ophos) have been determined by ion microprobe SHRIMP II using samples from both the Precordillera and Laurentia (Marathon area of Texas, Wilcox Pass in Alberta, and western Newfoundland). Significantly, the δ18O values of conodonts from all four widely separated areas show a consistent pattern of a cyclic but overall increasing trend in δ18O (ca. 16 to 18‰) hence ocean cooling through the Early and Middle Ordovician. An apparent change occurs at the basal Late Ordovician, where δ18O values obtained from conodonts in the uppermost sample from the Precordillera are significantly higher (+1.5‰) than those from Laurentia. Albeit from a single sample, this higher value implies significantly cooler conditions, as would be anticipated with a southerly (poleward) migration of the Precordillera (irrespective of either hypothesis). The virtual absence of conodont-bearing carbonates in most of the Precordilleran Upper Ordovician precluded analysis of younger samples. When combined with existing macrofaunal and palaeomagnetic data, the oxygen isotope data would tend to favour the model of a drift of the Precordillera from tropical to higher latitudes during the Ordovician; however, further studies are needed to determine unequivocally whether the Precordillera originated from southern Laurentia (Ouachita embayment). These new oxygen isotope values provide the best and regionally most consistent data through the Early-Middle Ordovician.

Palaeomagnetism and the debate on the size of the Earth

During the first half of XX Century, the Expanding Earth was a promising geodynamic hypothesis, because it could explain the evidence of ancient continental connections without requiring the lateral movement of continents. If the planet was inflating, the surface would expand, breaking up continents and increasing their reciprocal separation without drift. Moreover, while Earth contraction had been justified by density changes due to heat dissipation, early expansionists suggested that the heat generated by internal radioactive sources was driving Earth expansion.Looking for evidence in support of the expansion idea, early expansionists understood that palaeomagnetism could help quantifying the palaeo-Earth radius, and its change through time. However, palaeomagnetic data showed that no significant increase on the size of the Earth had occurred in the geological past. At the same time, continental palaeomagnetism showed that continents had continuously changed position in the geological past, supporting the mobilist model. Faced with the disappointing results from palaeomagnetic studies, the remaining supporters of Earth expansion continued to report only the palaeomagnetic data that might appear to support their hypothesis, but carefully neglected to acknowledge the disproving evidence.

Flora of the Kazanian–Urzhumian boundary in the middle Permian of the Russian Platform

Rich fossil plant localities in the upper Guadalupian and the lowermost Lopingian of the Russian Platform are confined to several discrete “levels” or “horizons” divided by intervals that are almost devoid of plant remains. One such “horizon” is located at the boundary between the Upper Kazanian and the Urzhumian of the regional stratigraphic scale. Numerous localities of this level can be grouped into two geographical clusters, the northern one being confined to the Kama River Basin, and the southern one to the Orenburg Region and Southern Bashkortostan. Regarding the southern localities, three floras that are seemingly successive in time can be distinguished. Against a common background of articulates (Paracalamites and Equisetites), the lowermost flora is characterized by the dominance of leaves of Rufloria (Cordaitanthales) with very rare conifers. Conifers (Quadrocladus, Sashinia, Dvinostrobus) and leaves of Phylladoderma (Peltaspermales) are the most abundant elements of the middle assemblage, whereas Rufloria leaves are very seldom found together with the peltasperm Ginkgophyllum and the conifer-like Steirophyllum. The uppermost flora is dominated by Odontopteridium and Ustyugia, two closely related genera of peltasperms, whereas cordaitaleans are totally absent. Comparison with the northern localities, which can be linked to the type sections of the Upper Kazanian and the Urzhumian, enables the dating of these assemblages in terms of the regional stratigraphic scale. All three floras prove to be confined to the uppermost Kazanian, and only the youngest one could also occur in the lowermost Urzhumian. As the stratigraphic ranges of all observed plant taxa exceed the total stratigraphic interval under study, the sequence of the floras seems to be caused by ecological (most likely climatic) factors rather than the actual evolution of plants. In particular, the observed gradual elimination of cordaitaleans confirms the general view on the extinction of this group on the Russian Platform. The southwestern boundary of the occurrence of cordaitaleans on the Russian Platform stretched from the southwest to the northeast, approximately parallel to the palaeolatitudes reconstructed on the basis of palaeomagnetic data. During the Guadalupian it moved to the northeast, which is to the north considering the position of the North Pole of that time. Cordaitaleans were the main peat-forming plants in the Late Palaeozoic of northern Pangea (in the Kuznetsk, Tunguska and Pechora Basins). So their retreat to the north was most likely a consequence and a reflection of the warming and drying of the climate.

Coring induced sediment fabrics at IODP Expedition 347 Sites M0061 and M0062 identified by anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS): criteria for accepting palaeomagnetic data

SUMMARY Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility data obtained from discrete subsamples recovered from two Integrated Ocean Drilling Program sites (Expedition 347 sites M0061 and M0062 in the Baltic Sea) by an Advanced Piston Corer are compared to results obtained on subsamples recovered by replicate 6-m-long Kullenberg piston cores. Characteristic natural remanence directions were obtained from the total of 1097 subsamples using principal component analyses. The three principal anisotropy axes of subsamples taken from Advanced Piston Core liners align to the subsample axes, with the maximum axis (K1) parallel to the split core surfaces, possibly caused by outwards relaxation of the core-liners after splitting. A second anomalous anisotropy fabric is characterized by steep values of the angular difference between the inclination of the minimum anisotropy axes (K3) and that expected for horizontal bedding (90°). This fabric is confined to the upper 1–2 m of the Kullenberg cores and specific sections of the advanced piston cores, and we attribute it to conical deformation caused by either excessive penetration speeds and downwards dragging of sediment along the edge of the liner or stretching caused by undersampling. By using our data in an example, we present a protocol to accept palaeomagnetic secular variation data that uses (i) a threshold 90-K3 value of 15°, combined with a modelled, locally applicable minimum inclination of 65° and (ii) an A95 cone of confidence based on Fisher statistics applied to virtual geomagnetic pole distributions.

Young inner core inferred from Ediacaran ultra-low geomagnetic field intensity

An enduring mystery about Earth has been the age of its solid inner core. Plausible yet contrasting core thermal conductivity values lead to inner core growth initiation ages that span 2 billion years, from ~0.5 to >2.5 billion years ago. Palaeomagnetic data provide a direct probe of past core conditions, but heretofore field strength data were lacking for the youngest predicted inner core onset ages. Here we present palaeointensity data from the Ediacaran (~565 million years old) Sept-Iles intrusive suite measured on single plagioclase and clinopyroxene crystals that hosted single-domain magnetic inclusions. These data indicate a time-averaged dipole moment of ~0.7 × 1022 A m2, the lowest value yet reported for the geodynamo from extant rocks and more than ten times smaller than the strength of the present-day field. Palaeomagnetic directional studies of these crystals define two polarities with an unusually high angular dispersion (S = ~26°) at a low latitude. Together with 14 other directional data sets that suggest a hyper-reversal frequency, these extraordinary low field strengths suggest an anomalous field behaviour, consistent with predictions of geodynamo simulations, high thermal conductivities and an Ediacaran onset age of inner core growth. A late onset of inner-core growth is inferred from ultra-low palaeomagnetic field strengths about 565 million years ago, as measured in magnetic inclusions in Ediacaran crystals.