Primary Remanent Magnetization Research Articles

Magnetization of Ferromanganese Crusts: Geochemical and Magnetic Insights From Rio Grande Rise and Tropic Seamount

AbstractFerromanganese (FeMn) crusts are Fe and Mn oxides that typically form on deep‐sea elevations by deposition of colloids from seawater. These mineral deposits are considered a source of critical metals and rare earth elements. Besides their potential economic value, FeMn crusts are extremely relevant in ocean science, since their very slow growth rates result in long‐term paleoenvironmental and paleoceanographic records. In this study, we applied geochemical, mineralogical, and magnetic analyses to unravel paleoenvironmental changes at two locations on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, the Rio Grande Rise in the SW Atlantic and the Tropic Seamount in the NE Atlantic. Our results show that the occurrence of amorphous (non‐crystalline) Fe oxyhydroxides and the absence of Fe oxides in hydrogenetic, non‐phosphatized FeMn crusts prevented the development of primary remanent magnetization. In contrast, phosphatized FeMn crusts may have contained a remanent magnetic signal. Phosphatization resulted from increased primary productivity and occurred at different stages during the growth of the FeMn crusts, leading to suboxic conditions and partial dissolution of pre‐existing, remanence‐carrying magnetic minerals. Carbonate Fluorapatite (CFA) accumulation in the phosphatized layers of FeMn crusts replaced Fe and Mn, decreasing their magnetic content. Thus, magnetic variations do not reflect a primary magnetization but rather result from geochemical alterations. The loss of primary magnetization may hamper the use of FeMn deposits for magnetostratigraphic purposes.

New paleomagnetic data from the central Tethyan Himalaya refine the size of Greater India during the Campanian

Knowledge of the size of Greater India is critical to deciphering the geodynamic processes of the India-Asia collision, as the size of this landmass primarily determines the amount of continental subduction and crustal shortening. Recently, paleomagnetic data revealed the rapid drift of a Himalayan microcontinent (i.e., the Tibetan Himalaya) during ca. 75–61 Ma, which resulted in a triple-stage India-Asia collision scenario. This scenario implies a relatively small Greater India at 75 Ma (Late Cretaceous), but this hypothesis is only based on one high quality Campanian paleomagnetic pole from the eastern part of the Tethyan Himalaya. Here we report comprehensive petrographic, rock magnetic and paleomagnetic studies on Upper Cretaceous oceanic affinity red beds (CORBs) of the Chuangde Formation from the central part of the Tethyan Himalaya at 83.6°E longitude. These CORBs are characterized by multi-component magnetizations carried dominantly by detrital hematite, which retains a primary remanent magnetization. Accordingly, the high temperature magnetization components (585−690°C) were isolated by high-resolution thermal demagnetization. The new paleomagnetic data provide, after applying an inclination shallowing correction, a Campanian paleopole of 43.3°N/258.3°E, which places the central part of the Tethyan Himalaya at a paleolatitude of 16.7° ± 1.8°S at ca. 75 Ma. Comparison of this paleolatitude with the expected paleolatitude of India, using its apparent polar wander path, shows that the N-S extent of central Greater India was ∼910 km during the middle Campanian. Our paleomagnetic data are in agreement with balanced cross section reconstructions and seismologic interpretations of the India-Asia collision zone and provide additional support for the North India Sea hypothesis. The improved estimate of the size of Greater India has several implications for Indian continental crust behavior and results in an updated reconstruction of the India-Asia collision system in the Campanian.

Evaluating the Compatibility of Hematite (U‐Th)/He Data and Hematite‐Carried Secondary Magnetizations: An Example From the Colorado Front Range

AbstractAncient magnetization(s), often recorded by hematite (Fe2O3), provide key paleomagnetic constraints on plate interactions through time. Primary remanent magnetizations may be modified or overprinted by secondary processes that complicate interpretations of paleomagnetic data. Hematite (U‐Th)/He (hematite He) dating has the potential to resolve when secondary magnetizations were acquired. Here, we compare hematite He data and paleomagnetic results in Paleoproterozoic crystalline rocks, meters below a major nonconformity in the Colorado Front Range, USA. Prior work and new rock magnetic data indicate that pervasive hematite alteration records a secondary chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) during the Permo‐Carboniferous Reverse Superchron, coincident with the Ancestral Rocky Mountain orogeny. We target minor hematite‐coated faults cutting basement for (U‐Th)/He analyses because they are of sufficient hematite purity to yield geologically meaningful dates. Two samples yield overlapping and scattered individual hematite He dates ranging from ∼138 to 27 Ma (n = 33), significantly younger than the age of the late Paleozoic CRM. Scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, and Raman spectroscopy indicate that aliquots have variable grain size distributions and fluorocarbonate impurities. Thermal history models support hematite on fault surfaces mineralized coeval with CRM acquisition during the late Paleozoic, and hematite He data scatter reflects variable He loss during Mesozoic burial owing to differences in grain size distribution from fault slip comminution and in chemistry among aliquots. Our results underscore the differences in temperature sensitivity and sampling requirements between paleomagnetic and hematite He investigations and illustrate that hematite He dates will usually be younger than preserved remanent magnetizations.

New palaeomagnetic data for Palaeoproterozoic AMCG complexes of the Ukrainian Shield

A palaeomagnetic study of rocks for two Palaeoproterozoic anorthosite-mangerite-charnockite-granite (AMCG) complexes in the Ukrainian Shield was done to put additional constraints on the interpretation of palaeogeography of Fennoscandia and Volgo-Sarmatia in the Palaeoproterozoic. With this study, 5 sites of Korsun-Novomyrhorod and 3 sites of Korosten AMCG complexes in central and north-western parts of the shield, respectively, were chosen for palaeomagnetic sampling given the geological, modern geochronological and previous palaeomagnetic data. Primary remanent magnetization was isolated on samples of anorthosites, Gabbro, and monzonites within a narrow time interval of U-Pb geochronology dataset of 1.76—1.75 Ga. The palaeomagnetic poles calculated for Korosten and Korsun-Novomyrhorod complexes are almost identical, which indicates that the Volyn and Ingul Domains developed within a single structure of the Ukrainian Shield since at least 1.75 Ga. The new palaeomagnetic pole calculated for all 8 sites (Plat=22.7 °N, Plon=167.4 °E, A95=3.3°) agrees well with previous studies by Elming et al. [2001, 2010]. The selection of the most reliable palaeomagnetic poles for Fennoscandia and Volgo-Sarmatia of this time indicates that the present position of the Ukrainian Shield relative to Fennoscandia is not the same as for about 1.75 Ga, when Fennoscandia occupied a subequatorial position within palaeolatitudes of 5—20 °N, and Volgo-Sarmatia was located close to the equator and rotated relative to Fennoscandia counterclockwise by about 40° compared to its present position.

Bending of the Western Mongolian Blocks Initiated the Late Triassic Closure of the Mongol‐Okhotsk Ocean and Formation of the Tuva‐Mongol Orocline

AbstractBending of ribbon continents or arcs is an important tectonic process for reconstructing central Asia. Formation of the striking Tuva‐Mongol Orocline by closure of the Mongol‐Okhotsk Ocean (MOO) has long been proposed, but coupling of the two geological events has not been well illustrated, hindering our understanding of tectonic evolution of central Asia. In order to constrain age of initial closure of the MOO in its western segment and formation of the Tuva‐Mongol Orocline, we performed paleomagnetic studies on the Late Triassic clastic rocks in the Amuria Block (AMB; 17 sites) and the Tarvagatay Block (TVB; 10 sites) of the western Mongolian blocks (WMB) on both sides of the Mongol‐Okhotsk Suture. Rock magnetic investigations show hematite and magnetite as main magnetic carriers of the characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM). The ChRM directions from both regions pass fold and/or reversal tests and can be considered as primary remanent magnetization. Combining the overlapped new paleomagnetic poles (AMB: λ/φ = 70.4°N/233.8°E, A95 = 4.6°; TVB: λ/φ = 70.5°N/248.2°E, A95 = 9.0°) with geological evidence, we propose that the bending of the WMB following its collision with the Siberia Craton resulted in the Late Triassic closure of the MOO in its western segment, and initiated the formation of the Tuva‐Mongol Orocline.

Pulsed counterclockwise rotation of the southwestern Sichuan Basin in response to the India-Asia convergence during 128-42 Ma

Deciphering the building history of the eastern Tibetan Plateau since the India-Asia convergence is crucial to understand geodynamic models of plateau formation. The Sichuan Basin adjacent to the eastern Tibetan Plateau margin potentially provides valuable records of when and how the Tibetan Plateau expanded eastward. In this study, we reconstruct ∼128–42 Ma rotation history of the southwestern Sichuan Basin using detailed paleomagnetic declination data from the Early Cretaceous to Eocene sedimentary sequence of ∼2400 m thick. A total of 78 sampling sites (774 samples) yield primary remanent magnetization confirmed by positive paleomagnetic tests. Our results show that the southwestern Sichuan Basin experienced a long-term clockwise rotation during 128–42 Ma which was interrupted by three transient and rapid counterclockwise rotation pulses. The earlier two pulses (86–82 Ma and 66–60 Ma) coincide with two India Plate acceleration episodes which are probably induced by the Marion and/or Réunion mantle plume upwelling, whereas the later pulse (53–46 Ma) temporally corresponds to the sudden slowdown of the India Plate caused by the India-Asia collision. Our findings indicate that the eastern Tibetan Plateau experienced prolonged and episodic building processes since the Late Cretaceous, long predating the traditional view of the late Miocene. The Tibetan Plateau was built synchronously from the Himalayas to its eastern margin. Lateral extrusion, block rotation, and strike-slip deformation collectively contribute to the mountain building in the eastern Tibetan Plateau region.

Remagnetization Under Hydrothermal Alteration of South Tibetan Paleocene Lavas: Maghemitization, Hematization, and Grain Size Reduction of (Titano)magnetite

AbstractThe Paleocene lavas from Dianzhong Formation (E1d) in Linzhou basin of southern Lhasa terrane are a key target for paleomagnetic investigations into the timing and paleolatitude of the initial India‐Asia collision. Controversy exists, however, on whether these rocks preserve a primary remanent magnetization. Here we reanalyze previously published thermal demagnetization data and report detailed rock magnetic results and petrographic observations of these rocks. We find that the original magnetic carrier, a magmatic multidomain Ti‐poor titanomagnetite, underwent significant grain size reduction and was variably reacted to single‐domain maghemite and nano‐hematite. Such strong alteration may have resulted from successive hydrothermal events: a first event related to the ∼52 Ma dike intrusions into the E1d that accompanied a massive ignimbrite eruption deposited above the E1d producing heating up to 300°C; and a secondary event related to the 42–27 Ma southward overthrusting of the basin, heating the E1d up to 130–145°C. Unblocking/inversion temperature spectra of the authigenic maghemite and nano‐hematite overlap with those of the titanomagnetite, implying that the primary remanence of the E1d lavas has been contaminated or replaced by thermoviscous and chemical remanent magnetizations. Thus the isolated characteristic remanent magnetization from these rocks, whether slightly or completely altered, cannot be considered primary and should not be used for paleolatitudinal determination. Our study confirms that hydrothermal alteration can seriously jeopardize the remanence carried by titanomagnetite and thus should be tested for paleomagnetic investigations of rock units from tectonically active areas.

Paleomagnetic Constraints From 925 Ma Mafic Dykes in North China and Brazil: Implications for the Paleogeography of Rodinia

AbstractCoeval Neoproterozoic mafic dykes with a well‐constrained isotopic age of 925 Ma are distributed in the North China Craton (NCC) of China and São Francisco Craton (SFC) of Brazil. Several recent studies favor the hypothesis that these two cratons were connected during 925 Ma and constituted building cratons for the supercontinent Rodinia. However, the paleo‐positions of the two cratons in Rodinia have not yet been paleomagnetically resolved. This paper presents the paleomagnetic results of these dykes in both NCC and SFC. Detailed thermal and alternating‐field demagnetization revealed that these dykes record stable components of magnetization with unblocking temperatures below the Curie temperature of magnetite. Rock magnetic results and scanning electron microscope analysis further confirm that the major magnetic minerals in dyke samples are pseudo‐single domain titanomagnetites. The mean directions of the characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) of the dykes are distinct from those of rocks of different ages in the sampling localities, and are supported by positive baked contact tests, indicating primary remanent magnetization. The ChRM of the SFC dykes also exhibits dual polarity. Our results suggest that the NCC and SFC were in the moderate to high paleolatitudes of the Southern Hemisphere during approximately 925 Ma, suggesting a possible paleogeographic connection between the two cratons. A new paleogeographic reconstruction of both cratons during 925 Ma is proposed, which is supported by other geological evidence.

Matuyama–Brunhes geomagnetic reversal record and associated key tephra layers in Boso Peninsula: extraction of primary magnetization of geomagnetic fields from mixed magnetic minerals of depositional, diagenesis, and weathering processes

We report paleomagnetic records of Matuyama–Brunhes geomagnetic polarity reversal and associated key tephra layers from the Early–Middle Pleistocene marine sedimentary succession in the Boso Peninsula. The outcrop is in Terasaki, Chiba, Japan and ~ 25 km northeast of the Chiba section. The sediment succession consists of a massive siltstone layer of the Kokumoto Formation, Kazusa Group. A tephra layer was identified in the middle of the outcrop with chemical composition comparable to that of the Byk-E tephra layer from the Chiba section defining the base of the Chibanian Stage. Oriented paleomagnetic samples were collected at intervals of 1–10 cm from the siltstone. To identify the primary remanent magnetization, progressive alternating field demagnetization (PAFD) and progressive thermal demagnetization (PThD) were conducted on pilot samples. Identification of primary magnetization with PAFD was not successful, especially for reversely magnetized samples. In addition, magnetization during PThD showed sharp drops around 175 °C, which decreased gradually between 175 °C and ~ 300 °C, and became unstable above ~ 350 °C. To extract the primary remanent magnetization while avoiding laboratory alteration by heating, a PThD up to 175 °C followed by PAFD was conducted. Combined analysis of remagnetization circles enables extraction of primary magnetization with improved reliability. Rock magnetic experiments were conducted during stepwise heating to understand the magnetic minerals involved and to evaluate the influence of laboratory heating. During heating, FORC-PCA revealed significant changes of magnetic minerals at 200 °C, 400 °C, 450 °C and 550 °C. Rock magnetic analyses and electron microscopy indicate that titanomagnetite/magnetite are magnetic minerals contributing to primary remanent magnetization. Greigite was also identified preserving secondary magnetizations during sub-seafloor diagenesis. The presence of feroxyhyte is suggested as secondary magnetization through the weathering of pyrite by exposure to the air after the Boso Peninsula uplift. The correlation of relative paleointensity with the Chiba section provides an age model with sedimentation rates of 30 cm/kyr and 18 cm/kr for the intervals above and below the Byk-E tephra. VGP latitudes are highly consistent with those from the Chiba section based on the age model, which assigns the main directional swing from reversed to normal polarities as 772.8 ± 0.5 ka.Graphical

Magnetostratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous Nenjiang Formation in the Songliao Basin, northeast China: Implications for age constraints on terminating the Cretaceous Normal Superchron

We developed an integrated chronology for the non-marine Upper Cretaceous Nenjiang Formation based on high-resolution magnetostratigraphic results and previously published secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) U–Pb zircon analyses of the eastern borehole of the Cretaceous Continental Scientific Drilling (CCSD-SK-II) borehole and two outcrop sections located in different structural provinces of the Songliao Basin, China. Detailed rock magnetic results demonstrated that pseudo-single-domain magnetite and single-domain greigite coexisted in the lacustrine black shales of the Nenjiang Formation, with the latter dominating remanence carriers. The reliable primary remanent magnetizations were isolated, which passed a class A positive reversal test and positive bootstrap reversal test, after correction for inclination shallowing, yielding a high-quality paleopole of 79.6°N/208.4°E, A95 = 2.3°. The borehole sequence and outcrop sections were stratigraphically correlated by combining lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and SIMS U–Pb zircon geochronology. The correlation of the recognized magnetic polarity sequences to the geomagnetic polarity timescale suggests that the Nenjiang Formation from the CCSD-SK-II borehole sequence and the two outcrop sections span from very late chron C34n to very early chron C33r. Furthermore, the age of the Cretaceous Normal Superchron (CNS) termination can be constrained to 82.7 ± 0.6 Ma based on magnetostratigraphy, radiometric dating, and the perfect/typical averaged sediment accumulation rate for Member 1 of the Nenjiang Formation of the borehole sequence. The estimated age obtained in this study accurately represents the age at CNS termination.

An improved apparent polar wander path for southwest Japan: post-Cretaceous multiphase rotations with respect to the Asian continent

To construct the Mesozoic apparent polar wander path (APWP) for the inner arc of the southwestern Japanese islands (referred to as southwest Japan) and compare it to that of East Asia, a 110 Ma paleomagnetic pole for southwest Japan was determined. Mudstone and sandstone samples were collected from 16 sites for paleomagnetic analysis in the Lower Cretaceous Inakura Formation of the Inakura area in the central part of southwest Japan. A high-temperature magnetization component, with unblocking temperatures of 670–695 °C, was isolated from 12 sites of red mudstone. Of these, 11 sites revealed a primary remanent magnetization during the Early Cretaceous. The primary directions combined with the previously reported ones provide a new mean direction (D = 79.7°, I = 47.4°, α95 = 6.5°, N = 17), and a corresponding paleomagnetic pole that is representative of southwest Japan (24.6° N, 203.1° E, A95 = 6.8°). The Early Cretaceous paleomagnetic pole, together with the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic poles, constitute a new APWP for southwest Japan. The new APWP illustrates a standstill polar position during 110–70 Ma, suggesting tectonic quiescence of this region. This standstill was followed by two large tracks during the Cenozoic. We interpret these tracks as clockwise tectonic rotations of southwest Japan that occurred twice during the Cenozoic. The earlier tectonic rotation occurred for a tectonic unit positioned below northeast China, the Liaodong and Korean Peninsulas, and southwest Japan (East Tan-Lu Block) during the Paleogene. The later rotation took place only under southwest Japan during the Neogene. Cenozoic multiphase rifting activity in the eastern margin of the Asian continent was responsible for the tectonic rotations that are observed from the paleomagnetic studies. Intermittent rifting may constitute a series of phenomena due to asthenospheric convection, induced by the growth of the Eurasian mega-continent in the Mesozoic.

The Jaramillo subchron in Chinese loess-paleosol sequences

The Chinese loess is one of the most important terrestrial records of the Quaternary climate changes. However, the positional discrepancy of geomagnetic polarity boundaries, such as Matuyama-Brunhes boundary (MBB), between Chinese loess and marine sediments remains controversial, hampering to establish an accurate chronological framework for the Chinese loess and its correlation with marine oxygen isotope records. The Jaramillo subchron within the Matuyama Chron is an important paleomagnetic age constraint for Quaternary magnetostratigraphic dating. Here, we present a high-resolution magnetostratigraphic, rock magnetism, and relative paleointensity (RPI) study of the stratigraphic interval between paleosols S9 and S18 in two parallel loess sections from the southeastern Chinese Loess Plateau, with an aim to explore the positions of the upper and lower boundaries of the Jaramillo in the Chinese loess. The results show that significant uncertainty and variability (more than one loess-paleosol cycle) for the positions of the measured upper and lower Jaramillo boundaries among different loess sections cannot be explained by the discrepancy of loess stratigraphy, sedimentation rate or regional climate. The measured upper and lower Jaramillo boundaries in the loess can be above or below their true positions, which cannot be explained by the lock-in effect. As the measured boundaries in the loess are mostly within the intervals of low-intensity geomagnetic field, we propose that the loess deposits may have acquired unstable primary remanent magnetization during the intervals of geomagnetic reversals or excursions with low-intensity geomagnetic field, and these deposits could be easily overprinted (remagnetizated) by the ensuing high-intensity field. This hypothesis is able to explain the phenomena that the measured MBB in the Eurasian loess is downward shifted by tens centimeters to several meters relative to the true boundary, and it can also explain the anomalistic polarity zones recorded in some loess sections.

Susceptibility and remanent magnetization inversion of magnetic data with a priori information of the Köenigsberger ratio

SUMMARY Magnetic susceptibility and natural remanent magnetization of rocks are useful parameters to study geological structures and geodynamic processes. Traditional widely used algorithms for the inversion of magnetic data can recover the distribution of the apparent susceptibility or total magnetization intensity, but do not provide information on the remanent magnetization. In this paper, we propose a framework to directly invert for the magnetic susceptibility and the natural remanent magnetization vector using surface or airborne magnetic data, assuming that the Köenigsberger ratio of the rock is known or approximately deducible. The susceptibility and remanence are computed using two different approaches: (1) the susceptibility, intensity, and direction of the remanent magnetization are continuously recovered for each discretized cell and (2) the remanence direction is assumed to be uniform in each subzone and is iteratively computed as discrete values. Both processes are implemented using the preconditioned conjugate gradient algorithm. The method is tested on three synthetic models and one field data set from the Zaohuohexi iron-ore deposit, Qinghai Province, northwest China. The results of the continuous inversion show the trend of the remanent magnetization directions, while the discrete inversion yields more specific values. This inversion framework can determine the source bodies’ geometry and position, and also provide superposed and comprehensive information on the natural remanent magnetization, which may be useful to investigate geological bodies bearing stable primary remanent magnetization.

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.

Challenges in isolating primary remanent magnetization from Tethyan carbonate rocks on the Tibetan Plateau: Insight from remagnetized Upper Triassic limestones in the eastern Qiangtang block

Carbonate rocks, widely used for paleomagnetically quantifying the drift history of the Gondwana-derived continental blocks of the Tibetan Plateau and evolution of the Paleo/Meso/Neo-Tethys Oceans, are prone to pervasive remagnetization. Identifying remagnetization is difficult because it is commonly undetectable through the classic paleomagnetic field tests. Here we apply comprehensive paleomagnetic, rock magnetic, and petrographic studies to upper Triassic limestones in the eastern Qiangtang block. Our results reveal that detrital/biogenic magnetite, which may carry the primary natural remanent magnetization (NRM), is rarely preserved in these rocks. In contrast, authigenic magnetite and hematite pseudomorphs after pyrite, and monoclinic pyrrhotite record three episodes of remagnetization. The earliest remagnetization was induced by oxidation of early diagenetic pyrite to magnetite, probably related to the collision between the northeastern Tibetan Plateau and the Qiangtang block after closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in the Late Triassic. The second remagnetization, residing in hematite and minor goethite, which is the further subsurface oxidation product of pyrite/magnetite, is possibly related to the development of the localized Cenozoic basins soon after India-Asia collision in the Paleocene. The youngest remagnetization is a combination of thermoviscous and chemical remanent magnetization carried by authigenic magnetite and pyrrhotite, respectively. Our analyses suggest that a high supply of organic carbon during carbonate deposition, prevailing sulfate reducing conditions during early diagenesis, and widespread orogenic fluid migration related to crustal shortening during later diagenesis, have altered the primary remanence of the shallow-water Tethyan carbonate rocks of the Tibetan Plateau. We emphasize that all paleomagnetic results from these rocks must be carefully examined for remagnetization before being used for paleogeographic reconstructions. Future paleomagnetic investigations of the carbonate rocks in orogenic belts should be accompanied by thorough rock magnetic and petrographic studies to determine the origin of the NRM.

Magnetic properties indicate the sources of hadal sediments in the Yap Trench, northwest Pacific Ocean

Magnetic minerals in marine sediments are often masked by the primary natural remanent magnetization and material source signals. In order to understand sedimentary environment and sources of sediments in the abyss, we studied 126 samples of five bottom surface cores collected by the Jiaolong Submersible at 4000–7000 m in depth during the third stage of the China’s 38th Ocean Voyage. The magnetic properties of the sediments were analyzed using Thermosusceptibility (k-T) curves and Day plot. The results show that the magnetic minerals in the sediments of the Yap Trench are mainly maghemite, and the overall magnetic and soft magnetic properties were strong. The magnetic particles of sediments are dominated by pseudo single domains (PSD) grains. The main source of sediment is locally-derived basalt debris and volcanic debris, and the process of sedimentation is gravity-like flow deposition.

La Quemada: Decline and abandonment in two stages on the classic period northern frontier of Mesoamerica

An integrated magnetic survey was carried out on key places within the La Quemada archaeological complex, built over a hill on the northern frontier of Classic period Mesoamerica. Samples were collected from the Plaza of Sacrifices and Hall of Columns in an attempt to precisely determine the age intervals corresponding to the decline and abandonment of the site, apparently due to the intentional firing as a closure ritual. Well-defined characteristic remanent magnetizations were retrieved from 23 of 32 samples. Moreover, twelve samples belonging to two areas yielded reliable determinations under criteria curtailed in this study. In any case, a primary remanent magnetization is carried by pseudo-single-domain Ti-poor titanomagnetite, as evidenced by hysteresis and continuous thermomagnetic curves. The archaeomagnetic dating was performed using full geomagnetic vector (directions and absolute intensity) using the last SHADIF14k model. The Plaza of Sacrifices seems to been burned between a time interval from 854 to 968 CE, while a late interval from 1018 to 1163 CE is assigned to the samples collected in the Hall of Columns, which suggest the gradual abandonment of the site. The first abandonment stage is almost synchronous to the same phenomena observed for other sites at the Bajío area (central and western Mesoamerica) region. Under these circumstances, it cannot be discarded that La Quemada was burned in its entirety during the first stage of abandonment, but the Hall of Columns was again burned later.

First report of coupled Early Permian paleomagnetic and geochronologic data from the Dunhuang block (NW China), and implications for the tectonic evolution of the Paleo-Asian ocean

In order to better understand the tectonic relationship between the Dunhuang block (DHB) and its adjacent blocks, and to constrain the timing of the closure of the Paleo-Asian ocean, a combined geochronologic and paleomagnetic investigation has been undertaken on Early Permian tuff, basalt flows and sandstones from the Shuangbaotang Formation in the northwestern part of the DHB. U-Pb zircon dating indicates that the age of the strata is between 280.6 ± 2.9 Ma and 291.4 ± 2.6 Ma. Thermal demagnetization of a three-component isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM), and Curie point experiment suggest that magnetite dominates in the rock samples analyzed. In addition, there is a minor amount of hematite in some sandstones. Stepwise thermal demagnetization successfully isolated stable characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) from 11 tuff layers, two lava flows and nine sandstone beds. Two components were isolated from all samples: a lower temperature component (LTC) and a higher temperature component (HTC). The LTC is near the direction of the present-day geomagnetic field and produced a negative fold test, indicating it is a viscous remanent magnetization in the present-day geomagnetic field. Most of the HTC are reverse polarity (Normal = 4, reverse = 158), which is in accordance with the Kiaman Reversed Superchron that spans the Late Carboniferous-Permian interval. In addition, the HTC of all studied sites passed the fold and reverse tests, suggesting that they likely represent primary remanent magnetization. The tilt-corrected mean direction from all sites (tuff, basalts and sandstones) is Ds = 1.7°, Is = 43.1°, ks = 403, α95 = 1.5°, N = 22. The mean paleopole of the site-mean direction-corresponded VGPs lies at 74.5°N, 268.5°E with A95 = 1.6°. Considering the consistent inclination values recorded among the studied tuff, basalts and sandstones, and the low degrees of anisotropy within all samples, we suggest that there is no significant inclination shallowing caused by depositional compaction in the sedimentary layers of the studied section. Taking into account the results from this study as well as previous Late Paleozoic paleomagentic studies from adjacent tectonic blocks, we conclude that the DHB formed part of the amalgamated Dunhuang-North China-Alxa-Qaidam mega-block during the Early Permian, but was separated from the Tarim block by a small ocean (here named the Qiemo-Xingxingxia paleo-ocean) at this time. A comparison of the Early Permian paleolatitudes of these and other adjacent blocks suggest that the Paleo-Asian ocean (sensu lato) was still open at this time. Combined with other geological evidence, a paleogeographic reconstruction of the Paleo-Asian ocean has been reconstructed for the Early Permian.

Seafloor hydrothermal alteration affecting magnetic properties of abyssal basaltic rocks: insights from back-arc lavas of the Okinawa Trough

Seafloor hydrothermal systems in the back-arc region of the Okinawa Trough have been viewed as a modern analogue to the Kuroko-type volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits. Detection of magnetic signatures is widely utilized and assumed to facilitate the understanding of geological controls on hydrothermal system genesis. However, the magnetic properties of seafloor volcanic rocks are still poorly understood because of the difficulties of sample acquisition. Here, we report rock magnetic data along with linked geochemical and petrological data of volcanic rock samples obtained from the Irabu knolls of the southern Okinawa Trough. Both fresh and hydrothermally altered basaltic andesites were successfully obtained from the seafloor via submersible. A fresh sample, with single-domain titanomagnetite grains, is strongly magnetized with NRM intensity of up to 100 A/m. Minute skeletal and dendritic titanomagnetite grains are also observed. A second fresh sample, with multi-domain titanomagnetite grains, contains a greater amount of titanomagnetite grains, but exhibits NRM intensity ~ 10 A/m at most. In contrast to the fresh samples, hydrothermally altered samples show extremely low NRM intensities along with low saturation magnetization and certain contribution of paramagnetic minerals. Grain assemblages of pyrite and chalcopyrite grains appear along cracks in the groundmass. Our results indicated that fine titanomagnetite grains in groundmass within back-arc lava flows are altered due to hydrothermal processes. The recorded primary remanent magnetization of the lava flows is thus partly removed by hydrothermal alteration. Magnetization reduction related to hydrothermal activity produces local crustal magnetization lows and thus enables us to detect hydrothermal alteration zones by utilizing magnetic field measurements in space. In particular, the lavas we examined (via their resultant basaltic andesites) have high Curie temperatures greater than 400 °C, which is significantly higher than those indicated by mid-ocean ridge basalts, suggesting that the thermal effect for crustal magnetization may be less in back-arc settings.

Evidence for an impact‐induced magnetic fabric in Allende, and exogenous alternatives to the core dynamo theory for Allende magnetization

AbstractWe conducted a paleomagnetic study of the matrix of Allende CV3 chondritic meteorite, isolating the matrix's primary remanent magnetization, measuring its magnetic fabric and estimating the ancient magnetic field intensity. A strong planar magnetic fabric was identified; the remanent magnetization of the matrix was aligned within this plane, suggesting a mechanism relating the magnetic fabric and remanence. The intensity of the matrix's remanent magnetization was found to be consistent and low (~6 μT). The primary magnetic mineral was found to be pyrrhotite. Given the thermal history of Allende, we conclude that the remanent magnetization was formed during or after an impact event. Recent mesoscale impact modeling, where chondrules and matrix are resolved, has shown that low‐velocity collisions can generate significant matrix temperatures, as pore‐space compaction attenuates shock energy and dramatically increases the amount of heating. Nonporous chondrules are unaffected, and act as heat‐sinks, so matrix temperature excursions are brief. We extend this work to model Allende, and show that a 1 km/s planar impact generates bulk porosity, matrix porosity, and fabric in our target that match the observed values. Bimodal mixtures of a highly porous matrix and nominally zero‐porosity chondrules make chondrites uniquely capable of recording transient or unstable fields. Targets that have uniform porosity, e.g., terrestrial impact craters, will not record transient or unstable fields. Rather than a core dynamo, it is therefore possible that the origin of the magnetic field in Allende was the impact itself, or a nebula field recorded during transient impact heating.