A Geographical Relation Between Geomagnetic Variation Anomalies and Tectonics

A world review of the available geomagnetic variation data, with a standardized presentation of results from North America and Europe, shows that there is a geographical relation between inland geomagnetic variation anomalies and tectonic features. Particularly evident in North America is a correlat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
Main Authors: Law, L. K., Riddihough, R. P.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1971
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e71-095
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e71-095
Description
Summary:A world review of the available geomagnetic variation data, with a standardized presentation of results from North America and Europe, shows that there is a geographical relation between inland geomagnetic variation anomalies and tectonic features. Particularly evident in North America is a correlation between anomalies and the edge of the stable craton. Other anomalies are situated along fold belts (eastern Canadian Arctic) and rift-fault zones (Rhine Graben, Iceland). With the exception of that in Japan, all reported anomalies are shown to occur within these three tectonic categories. In terms of plate theory, these categories and the island arc system related to Japan are characteristic of past or present plate boundary zones. A close association between plate margins and geomagnetic variation anomalies is thus implied.