On the magnetostratigraphic age of Nauru Basin basalts of the western Pacific Ocean and timing of Ontong Java volcanism

Details On the magnetostratigraphic age of Nauru Basin basalts of the western Pacific Ocean and timing of Ontong Java volcanism On the magnetostratigraphic age of Nauru Basin basalts of the western Pacific Ocean and timing of Ontong Java volcanism

Sep 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009e%26psl.287..175d&link_type=abstract

Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 287, Issue 1-2, p. 175-184.

Computer Science

1

Scientific paper

Cretaceous lava flows overlie Jurassic to Early Cretaceous oceanic crust in the Nauru Basin of the western equatorial Pacific, but their exact age and origin is controversial. In one model, they are generically related to volcanism forming the Ontong Java Plateau. However, paleomagnetic data from basalts recovered by ocean drilling in the Nauru Basin have been interpreted as recording numerous geomagnetic reversals, suggesting the Nauru Basin basalts are older than the Early Aptian flows on the Ontong Java Plateau, and the correlative volcanism seen in the western equatorial and southwestern Pacific Ocean basin. Here, we examine the magnetic fidelity of the Nauru Basin basalts through rock magnetic and paleomagnetic approaches. We find the magnetic carriers in the lavas are unlike most basaltic units recovered by oceanic drilling in that they are magnetically soft. This quality makes the rocks especially prone to the acquisition of secondary magnetic components induced during drilling. We demonstrate that the reversed polarity intervals are illusory, and instead record subtle changes in magnetic hardness that result in partial and complete overprinting by the magnetic field associated with the drill string (e.g., the core barrel, drill pipe and bit). The recognition of these magnetic overprints, the identification of only normal polarity in the Nauru Basin basalts, and a critical consideration of the available radiometric and biostratigraphic age data lead us to conclude that coeval formation of the Nauru Basin basalts and Ontong Java Plateau in Aptian times remains a viable hypothesis.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

On the magnetostratigraphic age of Nauru Basin basalts of the western Pacific Ocean and timing of Ontong Java volcanism does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with On the magnetostratigraphic age of Nauru Basin basalts of the western Pacific Ocean and timing of Ontong Java volcanism, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and On the magnetostratigraphic age of Nauru Basin basalts of the western Pacific Ocean and timing of Ontong Java volcanism will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1334679