Application of an Anisotropy-Based Correction to Relative Paleointensity Estimates of Experimentally Deposited Sediments

F. R. Molinek, D. Bilardello

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The magnetization of a sediment is acquired when ferromagnetic detrital particles align with the Earth's magnetic field as they settle through the water column. The relative continuity and ubiquity of the global sedimentary record makes sediments and sedimentary rocks an ideal target for studies of relative paleointensity (RPI) and the evolution of the Earth's magnetic field. However, processes including flocculation, contact with the substrate, bioturbation, and compaction disrupt this alignment, leading to shallowed remanent inclinations and biased intensities. The inclination of the depositional field also exerts an influence on the remanent intensity, thus affecting RPI estimates and leading to complications in interpretations of the global record. We present a series of 12 deposition experiments conducted in varying field strengths and inclinations, from which we determine RPI estimates. We then correct these estimates using a modified anisotropy-based inclination correction technique. We find experimentally that our correction reduces the inclination dependence of relative paleointensity while preserving the RPI's dependence on the depositional intensity. Our results suggest that the anisotropy-based correction should improve RPI estimates obtained from natural sediments and sedimentary rocks.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)882-900
Number of pages19
JournalGeochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Volume19
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2018

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

  • deposition experiments
  • detrital remanent magnetization
  • inclination shallowing
  • magnetic anisotropy
  • relative paleointensity
  • sedimentary magnetization

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Application of an Anisotropy-Based Correction to Relative Paleointensity Estimates of Experimentally Deposited Sediments'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this