The natural remanent magnetization of sediment cores from the Beaufort Sea

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
• Main Authors: Vilks, G., Hall, J. M., Piper, David J. W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1977
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Beaufort Sea
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e77-172; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e77-172

Two sediment cores collected from the continental slope of the southeastern Beaufort Sea show zones of stable shallow geomagnetic inclination at close to 0° in contrast with the dipole value of 80°. Although the cores were taken 60 km apart, the shallow inclination sections are sufficiently similar in form to be useful as potential correlation horizons, on the reasonable assumption that the same geomagnetic excursion is recorded in both cores.The cores consist of silt and clay, showing fine silt–clay laminae or structureless mud on X-radiographs. Except for the surface 2.5 m of core 810, foraminifera are sparse everywhere.The 14 C dates for total organic carbon place the recorded paleomagnetic event at between 10 000 and 40 000 years BP. According to paleontologic evidence, the event took place between 6 000 and 16 000 years BP. The later dating method is considered to be more reliable. Sediment cores from other high deposition rate areas need to be examined paleomagnetically to determine the areal extent of this Beaufort Sea geomagnetic excursion.