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The use of magnetic field excursions in stratigraphy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Ronald T. Merrill  and
Phillip L. McFadden
Ronald T. Merrill*
Affiliation:
Department of Earth and Space Sciences, Box 35-1650, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-1650, USA
Phillip L. McFadden
Affiliation:
Geoscience Australia, GPO Box 378, Canberra Act 2601, Australia
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail address:[email protected] (R.T. Merrill).
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Abstract

The use of magnetic field excursions in stratigraphy is difficult primarily because the excursion field is complex and not dominantly dipolar. In contrast with a reversal, which is a global event, an excursion can be evidenced at one location but not another. Although this does not by itself rule out the use of excursions in stratigraphy, it does limit the geographic area over which they may be correlated. We recommend, somewhat conservatively, that excursions can be used to correlate between sedimentary cores separated by angular distances of less than 30° on Earth's surface. Correlation between cores separated by more than 45° should not be attempted.

Keywords

Magnetic field excursionsStratigraphySedimentary cores
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 63 , Issue 3 , May 2005 , pp. 232 - 237
Copyright
University of Washington

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