Stable Natural Remanent Magnetization Research Articles

Hayabusa 2 returned samples reveal a weak to null magnetic field during aqueous alteration of Ryugu's parent body

The JAXA Hayabusa 2 mission returned 5.4 g of material from the C-type asteroid Ryugu. The Mn-Cr ages of dolomite in the returned samples indicate that Ryugu's parent body experienced aqueous alteration sometimes between <1.8 and 6.8 Myr after CAI formation. Because this time range overlaps with the lifetime of the solar nebula, we investigate the possibility that magnetite and pyrrhotite, which are aqueous alteration products found in Ryugu samples, acquired a remanent magnetization reflecting the nebula field intensity. We analyze the intrinsic magnetic properties and paleomagnetic record of three Ryugu samples of 0.82, 0.97 and 21.87 mg. None of the samples exhibit a stable natural remanent magnetization. This indicates that the aqueous alteration of Ryugu's parent body took place either in a field of a few µT, or in a very weak to null field. In the former scenario, the solar nebula field is the most likely magnetizing field, implying that aqueous alteration occurred before its dissipation, i.e., before ∼5 Myr after CAI formation. In the latter scenario, aqueous alteration must have occurred either after the dissipation of the nebula, or at an earlier epoch and a large heliocentric distance (> 5 au). The similarities between Ryugu samples and CI chondrites favor this second hypothesis. Our results contrast with another paleomagnetic study of two Ryugu samples, arguing for a paleofield intensity of 40 to 390 µT. Our interpretation of this discrepancy is that these samples were exposed to artificial magnetic fields (> mT) during preceding experiments. This highlights the importance of conducting, as much as possible, the paleomagnetic investigations of returned samples before any other experiment. We also demonstrate that the ratio of NRM over low-field magnetic susceptibility is a powerful, non-destructive indicator of magnetic contamination. We recommend measuring this ratio routinely before paleomagnetic investigations of meteorites and returned samples.

Paleomagnetic study of impactites from the Karla impact structure suggests protracted postimpact hydrothermalism

AbstractWe present a paleomagnetic study of the ~10 km diameter Karla impact structure in Russia. We sampled the target carbonate rocks, and a yet undocumented fragmental melt‐bearing lithic breccia layer. This impact breccia, which contains carbonate melt, is enriched in stoichiometric magnetite by a factor of ~15 compared to the target lithologies, and carries a stable natural remanent magnetization. The weak remanent magnetization and the presence of both normal and reverse polarities down to the centimeter scale indicate that the breccia does not carry a thermoremanent magnetization (TRM), but rather a chemical remanent magnetization (CRM). The presence of stoichiometric magnetite and the absence of TRM suggest that the magnetite was formed during relatively low‐temperature postimpact hydrothermalism that affected the porous impact breccia layer. During this process, the breccia acquired a CRM. The paleomagnetic direction is compatible with a Cenozoic age for the impact event, but cannot bring more precise constraint on the age because of the stable position of the Eurasian plate over the last 60 Myr. However, the presence of both polarities indicates that mild hydrothermalism took place over a period of time long enough to span at least one reversal of the geomagnetic field, that is, over a time scale of the order of 100 kyr. This confirms that protracted hydrothermal systems associated with impact craters are long lived, even in relatively small craters such as Karla, and are key features of the geologic and environmental effects of impacts on Earth.

Mapping and Modeling Sources of Natural Remanent Magnetization in the Microcline–Sillimanite Gneiss, Northwest Adirondack Mountains: Implications for Crustal Magnetism

AbstractDistinct crustal remanent magnetic anomalies are a strong indicator of rocks with stable natural remanent magnetization (NRM) carriers. The latter are able to store information on the history of a rock over long geological periods, and can therefore be used for a variety of applications in the field of paleomagnetism and rock magnetism. Typically, paleomagnetic and rock‐magnetic studies rely on rocks bulk magnetic properties. With the advent of high‐resolution magnetometric scanning techniques, it is now possible to map magnetic sources at the mineral scale, identify the different magnetic carriers, and analyze the effect of geometry, microstructures, and composition on their magnetic response. We investigate the stability of discrete remanent magnetization sources of a microcline–sillimanite gneiss sample from Russell Belt with a strong NRM, by scanning the sample before, and after alternating field demagnetization to 100 mT. We quantified changes in the magnetization intensity and direction by inverting the magnetic scan data. Here, we confirm that the exsolved titanohematite with ilmenite lamellae is the major source of magnetization, and the coexisting multidomain hematite grains contribute little to the NRM, or the magnetic anomalies. The microstructures in the titanohematite control local magnetic properties at the mineral scale. Magnetic modeling results suggest a consistent average magnetization direction before and after demagnetization at both the grain and thin section scale, with a decrease in the magnetization intensity of ≈30%. Results are consistent with previous bulk magnetic measurements and the likelihood to use high‐resolution magnetometric techniques in future magnetic studies is high.

Nanogoethite as a Potential Indicator of Remagnetization in Red Beds

AbstractRed beds are well‐known for recording stable natural remanent magnetization (NRM). However, discriminating primary NRM from secondary remanence in red beds is difficult. The Paleogene Nangqian red beds in eastern Tibetan Plateau variably record an overprint related to nearby magmatism and thus provide a great opportunity to characterize remagnetization in red beds. Through comprehensive rock magnetic, Mössbauer spectroscopic, and petrographic analyses, we find that remagnetization was controlled by temperature. Remagnetized red beds contain abundant authigenic hematite and goethite, with some larger grains unblocking at the Néel temperatures and the remainder (nanoparticles) unblocking at lower temperatures. In contrast, red beds retaining primary NRM are characterized by dominance of detrital hematite and magnetite, presence of fine‐grained authigenic hematite, and absence of authigenic goethite and magnetite. High temperature behaviors of NRM/susceptibility are indicative of remagnetization, but the presence of goethite appears to be a more sensitive criterion for diagnosing remagnetization in red beds.

Holocene chronostratigraphy of northeastern Baffin Bay based on radiocarbon and palaeomagnetic data

The northeastern Baffin Bay continental margin, which experiences high sediment accumulation rates, is an excellent location to study Holocene sedimentary variations. However, it is often difficult to obtain reliable chronologies of the sediment archives using traditional methods (d 18 O and radiocarbon) due to specific oceanographic conditions (e.g. corrosive bottom waters). Here we propose a chronostratigraphy of three cores collected on the northwestern Greenland margin (AMD14-204, AMD14-210 and AMD14-Kane2B) based on a combination of radiocarbon dating and palaeomagnetic records. Geophysical properties of discrete samples were used to verify the reliability of the palaeomagnetic records. Palaeomagnetic analyses indicate a strong and stable natural remanent magnetization carried by low coercivity ferrimagnetic minerals (magnetite) in the pseudo-single domain grain size range. Correlation of the full palaeomagnetic vector (inclination, declination, and relative palaeointensity) was used to establish a reliable chronostratigraphical framework for two of the cores (AMD14-204 and AMD14-210) and to propose an original palaeomagnetic record for the previously 14 C-dated core AMD14-Kane2B that covers most of the Holocene. Overall, this new chronostratigraphy allowed improvement of the timing of the main palaeoenvi-ronmental changes that occurred in this area during the Holocene.

Late Quaternary paleomagnetic secular variation recorded in deep-sea sediments from the Demerara Rise, equatorial west Atlantic Ocean

We have carried out a paleomagnetic/rock magnetic study of two gravity cores and two multicores from the Demerara Rise (∼8°N), adjacent to NE South America. The magnetic measurements indicate that there is a stable natural remanent magnetization (NRM) carried primarily by detrital magnetite/titanomagnetite that preserves the local pattern of paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV). The two gravity cores have consistent patterns of directional variability. The rock magnetic intensities in both gravity cores vary by less than a factor of three. Relative paleointensity estimates have been derived by normalizing the NRM to Chi, ARM, and SIRM. Both gravity cores show the same pattern of relative paleointensity variability. 27 calibrated radiocarbon dates from our studied gravity cores and one additional piston core (Huang et al., 2014) have been used to build chronologies for the two gravity cores. Core 25GGC has bulk sedimentation rates varying from 18 to 22cm/ky and contains a PSV record for the last 19ka; core 9GGC has bulk sedimentation rates of 9–17cm/ky and contains a PSV record for the last 28ka. There are no other published, good-quality, well-dated full-vector PSV records within 4000km of the sites, a region which constitutes almost 20% of the Earth’s surface area. Our relative paleointensity records are consistent with other global records under the assumption of field intensity being largely a global-scale process. We have compared our directional PSV data statistically with eight other good-quality, well-dated low-latitude PSV records. Our statistical analysis shows that our Demerara Rise directional PSV records are consistent with those other studies and that the Late Quaternary Equatorial field variability is significantly lower than much longer-duration (780ka to 5Ma) variability.

New constraints on the magnetic history of the CV parent body and the solar nebula from the Kaba meteorite

Recent paleomagnetic studies of Allende CV chondrite as well as thermal modeling suggest the existence of partially differentiated asteroids with outer unmelted and variably metamorphosed crusts overlying differentiated interiors. To further constrain the magnetic history of the CV parent body, we report here paleomagnetic results on Kaba CV chondrite. This meteorite contains 11 wt% pseudo-single domain magnetite, making it a rock with an excellent paleomagnetic recording capacity. Kaba appears to carry a stable natural remanent magnetization acquired on its parent body upon cooling in an internally generated magnetic field of about 3 μT from temperatures below 150 °C during thermal metamorphism about 10 to several tens of Myr after solar system formation. This strengthens the case for the existence of a molten advecting core in the CV parent body. Furthermore, we show that no significant magnetic field (i.e. lower than ∼0.3 μT) was present when aqueous alteration took place on the Kaba parent body around 4 to 6 Myr after solar system formation, suggesting a delay in the onset of the dynamo in the CV parent body and confirming that nebular fields had already decayed at that time.

Magnetism of a very young lunar glass

AbstractRecent paleomagnetic studies of Apollo samples have established that a core dynamo existed on the Moon from at least 4.2 to 3.56 billion years (Ga). Because there is no lunar dynamo today, a longstanding mystery has been the origin of magnetization in very young lunar samples (&lt;~200 million years old (Ma)). Possible sources of this magnetization include transient fields generated by meteoroid impacts, remanent fields from nearby rocks magnetized during an earlier dynamo epoch, a weak late dynamo, and spontaneous remanence formed in a near‐zero field. To further understand the source of the magnetization in young lunar samples, we conducted paleomagnetic, petrographic, and 40Ar/39Ar geochronometry analyses on a young impact melt glass rind from the exterior of ~3.35 Ga mare basalt 12017. Cosmic ray track densities and our 40Ar/39Ar and cosmogenic 38Ar analyses constrain the glass formation age to be &lt;7 Ma and most likely &lt;20 thousand years (kyr), making it likely the youngest extraterrestrial sample yet studied with paleomagnetic methods. Despite its relatively high fidelity magnetic recording properties compared to most lunar rocks, we find that the glass carries no stable primary natural remanent magnetization and that it formed in a field &lt;~7 μT (with a 2 σ upper limit of &lt;11 μT). Given the poor magnetic recording properties of the majority of lunar samples, this provides further evidence that many or perhaps even all previous paleointensity estimates for ≤1.5 Ga rocks are upper limits on the true paleofield and therefore require neither a protracted strong (&gt;10 μT) core dynamo field nor impact‐generated fields.

Insights into magmatic processes and hydrothermal alteration of in situ superfast spreading ocean crust at ODP/IODP site 1256 from a cluster analysis of rock magnetic properties

AbstractWe analyze magnetic properties from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP)/Integrated ODP (IODP) Hole 1256D (6°44.1' N, 91°56.1' W) on the Cocos Plate in ∼15.2 Ma oceanic crust generated by superfast seafloor spreading, the only drill hole that has sampled all three oceanic crust layers in a tectonically undisturbed setting. Fuzzy c‐means cluster analysis and nonlinear mapping are utilized to study down‐hole trends in the ratio of the saturation remanent magnetization and the saturation magnetization, the coercive force, the ratio of the remanent coercive force and coercive force, the low‐field magnetic susceptibility, and the Curie temperature, to evaluate the effects of magmatic and hydrothermal processes on magnetic properties. A statistically robust five cluster solution separates the data predominantly into three clusters that express increasing hydrothermal alteration of the lavas, which differ from two distinct clusters mainly representing the dikes and gabbros. Extensive alteration can obliterate magnetic property differences between lavas, dikes, and gabbros. The imprint of thermochemical alteration on the iron‐titanium oxides is only partially related to the porosity of the rocks. Thus, the analysis complements interpretation based on electrofacies analysis. All clusters display rock magnetic characteristics compatible with an ability to retain a stable natural remanent magnetization suggesting that the entire sampled sequence of ocean crust can contribute to marine magnetic anomalies. Paleointensity determination is difficult because of the propensity of oxyexsolution during laboratory heating and/or the presence of intergrowths. The upper part of the extrusive sequence, the granoblastic dikes, and moderately altered gabbros may contain a comparatively uncontaminated thermoremanent magnetization.

Experimental evidence for lamellar magnetism in hemo-ilmenite by polarized neutron scattering

Large local anomalies in the Earth's magnetic field have been observed in Norway, Sweden, and Canada. These anomalies have been attributed to the unusual magnetic properties of naturally occurring hemo-ilmenite, consisting of a paramagnetic ilmenite host ($\ensuremath{\alpha}$-Fe${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$-bearing FeTiO${}_{3}$) with exsolution lamellae ($\ensuremath{\approx}$$3\phantom{\rule{0.222222em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}$m thick) of canted antiferromagnetic hematite (FeTiO${}_{3}$-bearing $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-Fe${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$) and the mutual exsolutions of the same phases on the micron to nanometer scale. The origin of stable natural remanent magnetization (NRM) in this system has been proposed to be uncompensated magnetic moments in the contact layers between the exsolution lamellae. This lamellar magnetism hypothesis is tested here by using polarized neutron diffraction to measure the orientation of hematite spins as a function of an applied magnetic field in a natural single crystal of hemo-ilmenite from South Rogaland, Norway. Polarized neutron diffraction clearly shows that the ilmenite spins do not contribute to the NRM and that hematite spins account for the full magnetization at ambient temperature. Hematite sublattice spins are shown to adopt an average angle of 56${}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$ with respect to a saturating magnetic field, which is intermediate between the angle of 90${}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$ predicted for a pure canted moment and the angle of 0${}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$ predicted for a pure lamellar moment. The observed NRM is consistent with the vector sum of lamellar magnetism and canted antiferromagnetic contributions. The relative importance of the two contributions varies with the length scale of the microstructure, with the lamellar contribution increasing when exsolution occurs predominantly at the nanometer rather than the micrometer scale.

High‐resolution paleomagnetic records from Laguna Potrok Aike (Patagonia, Argentina) for the last 16,000 years

Holocene and Late‐glacial records documenting variations in direction and intensity of the geomagnetic field during the last 16,000 cal. BP are presented for Southern Patagonia. This continuous high‐resolution terrestrial record from Laguna Potrok Aike (51°58′S, 70°23′W) was recovered within the SALSA (South Argentinean Lake Sediment Archives and modeling) project. Mineral magnetic measurements indicate that pseudo single‐domain magnetite is the major carrier of the remanence allowing the reliable determination of stable natural remanent magnetization inclinations and declinations from alternating field demagnetization and principal component analysis. Paleomagnetic secular variation records reveal most of the familiar features of declination and inclination that have previously been reported in other records from South Argentina but conspicuous centennial‐scale differences are also observed. The results illustrate the potential of paleosecular variations records for dating sedimentary sequences in southern South America.

Magnetic discrimination between Al‐substituted hematites synthesized by hydrothermal and thermal dehydration methods and its geological significance

Hematite, a ubiquitous mineral in aerobic sediments and soils of temperate and warm areas, is weakly magnetic. However, it carries a stable natural remanent magnetization, and thus can reflect paleoenvironment changes. To quantify the influence of Al content in hematite on its magnetic properties, two series of hematite particles were prepared by hydrothermal transformation of ferrihydrite in aqueous suspension (HFh* series) and by thermal dehydration of goethite (HG* series). Crystal morphological and mineral magnetic properties of these two types of hematites differ distinctively. More specifically, the HFh* series samples display oblate (plate‐like) morphologies, while the HG* series samples are prolate (highly acicular). HFh* series samples display higher saturation magnetization but lower magnetic coercivity than that of the HG* series. It is tenable that a better lattice ordering of Al substitution occurs during the process of dehydration of goethite than after transformation from ferrihydrite, resulting in weaker saturation magnetization for HG* series samples. The origin of single domain (SD) hematite in nature can be diagnosed by the correlation of unblocking temperature and magnetic coercivity: a positive correlation indicates the presence of pure (Al‐free) SD hematite, while a negative correlation indicates a chemical origin of SD Al‐substituted hematite. These results bear new information on decoding the complex magnetic properties of SD Al‐hematite in nature environments, and thus deepen our understanding of the mechanism of variations in both paleomagnetic and paleoenvironmental signals carried by Al‐hematite.

Iron deficiency in pyrrhotite of suevites from the Chesapeake Bay impact crater, USA—A consequence of shock metamorphism?

Abstract– Pyrrhotite from suevite of the 35 Ma Chesapeake Bay impact structure (CBIS) shows a shock metamorphism and we report on several mineralogical and magnetic features. Pyrrhotite shows strong brittle deformation with a high density of stacking faults, twinning parallel to the hexagonal (001) planes and average fault distances in the order of 10 nm. Although the determination of a superstructure was not possible due to the lattice defects, the reflections of the NiAs subcell, which is typical of all pyrrhotite modifications, were clearly detected. This phase is ferrimagnetic with a Curie temperature (TC) between 350 and 365 °C, and suevite with this phase does not show the 34 K transition. The most peculiar feature is the low metal/sulfur ratio of 0.81, which indicates a distinctly higher vacancy concentration than for 4C pyrrhotite and a composition close to smythite (Fe9S11). This phase carries a stable natural remanent magnetization and is relatively hard magnetic. Steep inclinations of the natural remanent magnetization vector, however, suggest that this phase has been remagnetized by the drilling process. A possible explanation is the magnetic domain size of faultless areas of about 10 nm in diameter, which is at the lower limit of the single domain size near the threshold, below which superparamagnetic behavior occurs. The low thermal stability of this phase excludes postshock heating above 300 °C for the suevite of the CBIS. Our results imply that the iron‐deficient pyrrhotite is produced by shock metamorphism, although an iron loss due to shock has never been reported before for pyrrhotite.

Preliminary palaeomagnetic investigation of riverine tufa: is riverine tufa a reliable recorder of the geomagnetic field direction?

SUMMARY Riverine tufas are freshwater carbonate deposits that precipitate in springs and streams distributed in limestone areas. They are noteworthy for their annual laminations that contain both dense and porous laminae and their fast precipitation rate. These features indicate that riverine tufa may be an excellent material for recording the secular variation of the geomagnetic field. Part of recently deposited tufas in Nagaya in Okayama Prefecture, Japan have a stable natural remanent magnetization (NRM), which is a reliable record of the average geomagnetic field direction. However, only the dense laminae in the recent tufa, however, carry a faithful record of the geomagnetic field direction; the porous laminae do not. The NRM of the porous laminae seems to be affected considerably by the dip direction of the slope on which the tufa is deposited. Based on the results of isothermal remanent magnetization acquisition experiments and microscopic observations, the dominant magnetic mineral in the recent tufa was determined to be magnetite. A Holocene palaeotufa, which was formed 2000–2800 years ago, was found to have no stable remanent magnetization. This is possibly due to the absence of dense layers where magnetic particles are tightly fixed. Since it is very important in palaeomagnetic secular variation studies to be able to reconstruct much older, continuous records of the variation of the geomagnetic field, tufa deposits are not ideal materials and their applicability for this purpose is rather low, although the further investigation is needed.

Paleomagnetic record of the late Pleistocene reef sequence of Tahiti (French Polynesia): A contribution to the chronology of the deposits

Rock- and paleomagnetic investigations were performed on the late Pleistocene reef sequence of Tahiti, and take part of a multidisciplinary study of the Holocene and Pleistocene reef sequences, carried out by the IODP (Integrated Ocean Drilling Program) Expedition 310. The objectives were to characterize the natural remanent magnetization and its mineral carriers, in order to identify high-resolution magnetostratigraphic markers of the late Brunhes chron. A series of 85 specimens subsampled within a 79 m-thick silty-carbonate sequence cored at the Maraa site (SW of Tahiti) display a strong and stable natural remanent magnetization (NRM) carried by titanomagnetite inherited from the basalts which form the bulk of the island. The average negative inclination is assignable to the field generated by the normal polarity axial dipole field at the site latitude. A few specimens (103–119 m below modern sea level) carry a reversed primary magnetization acquired in a weak excursional field. Based on subsidence rate estimates ranging from 0.25 to 0.4 m/kyr, this suggests the identification either the Laschamp excursion (∼ 40 ka) or the Blake event (115–120 ka). Radiometric dates of ∼ 131 to ∼ 134 ka at 117 m below modern sea level confirm that these layers were deposited during the marine isotope stage 5.5 and recorded the direction and intensity anomaly associated with the Blake event. Another sea-level highstand reef unit, occurring deeper in the Pleistocene sequence has seemingly recorded another paleomagnetic intensity anomaly which is not yet definitely identified. Reef systems, which developed around volcanic islands, contain geological records of excursions. But, it is necessary to improve the understanding of NRM acquisition and the role of carbonate diagenesis in order to establish radiometrically dated records of geomagnetic excursions.

The Tortonian reference section at Monte dei Corvi (Italy): evidence for early remanence acquisition in greigite-bearing sediments

SUMMARY The reliability of primary natural remanent magnetization (NRM) signals in greigite-bearing sediments has been frequently questioned. Here, we show that the stable NRM in the deep marine Middle to Late Miocene sediments at Monte dei Corvi, northern Italy, is mainly carried by greigite. Combined rock magnetic experiments and scanning electron microscopy successfully enabled discrimination between two greigite populations. One fine-grained and relatively well-dispersed greigite population (grain size between 60 and 200 nm) is most likely of magnetotactic origin. The second greigite population with larger grain sizes (typically 700 nm to 1 μm) is most likely of authigenic (bacterially mediated) origin, and is related to post-depositional sulphidization processes. Greigite is the main magnetic remanence carrier in the older part of the section (12.8 to 8.7 Ma), whereas greigite and fine-grained (presumably magnetotactic) magnetite are present in the younger part of the section (8.7 to 6.9 Ma). Similar remanent magnetization directions of the magnetite and greigite components, and the likelihood of a magnetotactic origin, suggests that the NRM is of syn-depositional age. We suggest that moderate methane seepage from the underlying sediments may have occurred that resulted in the preservation of pristine greigite. This corroborates the reliability of the previously established magnetostratigraphy at Monte dei Corvi.

Rock-magnetic analyses as a tool to investigate archaeological fired sediments: a case study of Mirador cave (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain)

SUMMARY Here we report a detailed mineral magnetic study of Neolithic burnt levels in the Mirador Cave (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain) to reconstruct the burning history and to investigate their suitability for archaeomagnetic purposes. As a consequence of the ancient burning, a characteristic facies sequence was developed along the Holocene stratigraphy. From top to bottom it includes: (i) 2–10 cm ash layers, (ii) ∼2 cm underlying rubefied layers and (iii) clay, mainly unburnt and of variable thickness. In some cases a thermally altered facies (2–6 cm) with a heterogeneous texture was identified (facies TF), usually between rubefactions and the unburnt levels. 126 oriented samples from 4 units (MIR12, 15, 18 and 21) and a 2 m section, all comprised between units MIR21 (6380 ± 40 14C BP) and MIR9 (5090 ± 40 14C BP) were analysed with rock magnetic methods. In addition, bulk sediment from each facies that comprise the Neolithic sequence was investigated. Measurements included: stepwise alternating field and thermal demagnetization of natural remanent magnetization (NRM), viscosity experiments, determination of the anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility (AMS), the susceptibility frequency dependence at room temperature and determination of the temperature dependence of the susceptibility. Additional experiments consisted in the determination of the behaviour of anhysteretic and isothermal (IRM) remanences, magnetic hysteresis loops, first-order-reversal-curve diagrams, and thermal demagnetization of three-axial IRM. It appeared that the facies all show a fairly similar magnetic mineralogy and grain size dominated by low-titanium magnetite that is often partially maghaemitized. Main differences constitute the amount of superparamagnetic particles that is higher in unburnt strata concurring with a less well-defined NRM behaviour. The magnetic mineral concentration is notably higher in ashes. This homogeneity strongly suggests that similar sources and burial conditions prevailed during Neolithic times. Agreeing with archaeological observations and favoured by rapid burial conditions, very limited alterations have been deduced. AMS data revealed the absence of fluid flow in the ash lenses sampled. Demagnetization revealed a stable single NRM component in ashes, a single or two-component NRM in rubefactions and less stable multicomponent behaviour in clays. In ashes, magnetic minerals are likely secondary in origin formed by low-temperature oxidization soon after burning. Although this thermochemical nature of the NRM invalidates the use of these sediments for palaeointensity studies, archaeomagnetic (directional) data can be successfully obtained because the burning and oxidation are closely confined in time.

Holocene Earth’s magnetic field variations recorded in marine sediments of the NW African continental margin

Holocene records documenting variations in direction and intensity of the geomagnetic field during the last about seven and a half millennia are presented for Northwest Africa. High resolution paleomagnetic analyses of two marine sediment sequences recovered from around 900 meter water depth on the upper continental slope off Cape Ghir (30°51′N, 10°16′W) were supplemented by magnetic measurements characterizing composition, concentration, grain size and coercivity of the magnetic mineral assemblage. Age control for the high sedimentation rate deposits (∼60 cm/kyr) was established by AMS radiocarbon dates. The natural remanent magnetization (NRM) is very predominantly carried by a fine grained, mostly single domain (titano-)magnetite fraction allowing the reliable definition of stable NRM inclinations and declinations from alternating field demagnetization and principal component analysis. Predictions of the Korte and Constable (2005) geomagnetic field model CALS7K.2 for the study area are in fair agreement with the Holocene directional records for the most parts, yet noticeable differences exist in some intervals. The magnetic mineral inventory of the sediments reveals various climate controlled variations, specifically in concentration and grain size. A very strong impact had the mid-Holocene environmental change from humid to arid conditions on the African continent which also clearly affects relative paleointensity (RPI) estimates based on different remanence normalizers. To overcome this problem the pseudo-Thellier RPI technique has been applied. The results represent the first Holocene record of Earth’s magnetic field intensity variations in the NW Africa region. It displays long term trends similar to those of model predictions, but also conspicuous millennium scale differences.

Effects of nanoscale exsolution in hematite–ilmenite on the acquisition of stable natural remanent magnetization

To investigate the acquisition mechanism of high and stable natural remanent magnetization (NRM) in rocks of the Russell Belt, Adirondack Mountains, New York, we examined the exsolution microstructures and compositions of magnetic minerals using three samples with different magnetic properties. The samples contain titanohematite with ilmenite lamellae, end-member hematite without lamellae and rare magnetite as potential carriers for the NRM. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations and element mapping by energy-filtered TEM (EFTEM) of the titanohematite indicated that very fine ilmenite lamellae with a minimum thickness ∼2 nm are abundant between larger ilmenite lamellae a few hundreds of nanometers thick. The ilmenite lamellae and titanohematite hosts, with the compositions of Ilm 90–100Hem 10–0 and Ilm 7–16Hem 93–84, respectively, share (001) planes, and the abundant fine ilmenite lamellae have coherent, sharp structural and compositional interfaces with their titanohematite hosts. Comparison between samples shows that the magnetization is correlated with the amount of fine exsolution lamellae. These results are consistent with the lamellar magnetism hypothesis, suggesting that the acquisition of high and stable NRM is related to the interfacial area between fine ilmenite lamellae and their host titanohematite. End-member hematite with a multi-domain magnetic structure only contributes a minor amount to the NRM in these samples.

Geomagnetic field variations in northern Sweden during the Holocene quantified from varved lake sediments and their implications for cosmogenic nuclide production rates

Palaeomagnetic analyses were conducted on two varved lake-sediment sequences in northern Sweden. The magnetic properties of the sediment sequences are dominated by stable single-domain magnetite with characteristics typical of bacterial magnetosomes. Alternating field demagnetization measurements indicate that the single-domain magnetite is the dominant carrier of a stable natural remanent magnetization. Temporal variations in inclination and declination were obtained from a total of four cores and the data points were stacked according to their independent calendar-year (varve) ages. Statistically significant patterns in inclination and declination form a regional palaeomagnetic secular variation (PSV) curve, which possesses features that are identical in form to the UK Holocene PSV master curve. However, the calibrated radiocarbon ages of UK features identified prior to 1500 BC are approximately 500 years older than their Swedish varve-dated equiva lents, which points to dating errors and/or drifting of the geomagnetic field. The sediments meet the uniformity criteria proposed for palaeointensity reconstruction and estimates of relative geomagnetic field intensity are calibrated against global dipole-moment compilations. A calculated nuclide production curve is derived from the reconstructed geomagnetic field intensity, which empirically demonstrates the dominant modulation of cosmogenic nuclide production by dipole-moment between 5000 BC and ad 1500.