Remanent Magnetism of Lower Tertiary Lavas on Baffin Island
Six horizontal basalt flows of presumed Paleocene age were sampled near Cape Dyer, Baffin Island. The natural remanence (NRM) is steeply inclined and nearly always of normal (+) polarity. NRM directions are generally very stable under alternating-field (AF) and thermal demagnetization. The average K...
| Published in: | Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1971
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e71-143 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e71-143 |
| Summary: | Six horizontal basalt flows of presumed Paleocene age were sampled near Cape Dyer, Baffin Island. The natural remanence (NRM) is steeply inclined and nearly always of normal (+) polarity. NRM directions are generally very stable under alternating-field (AF) and thermal demagnetization. The average Koenigsberger ratio is about 10. Magnetic moment-temperature curves and microscopic examination indicate that the stable remanence resides in a single, primary titanomagnetite component, though Curie points are either 230–330 °C or 540–580 °C; the higher range represents a more advanced oxidation state and higher stability. Some anomalous samples having steep negative NRM's probably were remagnetized in a reversed geomagnetic field. Omitting these, a pole position based on five flow mean directions after AF treatment is 83° N, 55° W, with dp = 11½°, dm = 12°. This is broadly comparable with some of the published Lower Tertiary poles for the western United States. The results indicate that the basalts are excellent material for further paleomagnetic studies around Baffin Bay. |
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