blank blue column
ODP Legacy logo with link to Home

Laboratory Methods


Paleomagnetism

Lab Documentation

Shipboard paleomagnetists provide the first paleomagnetic analysis of sediments and rocks recovered by ODP. This information is used by shipboard and shore-based scientists as the basis for further sampling the study, and for forming the first general conclusions about the geologic history of the drilling site. The shipboard paleomagnetists have a tremendous responsibility to the scientific community to provide accurate and reliable data. Hence, the paleomagnetics laboratory on board the JOIDES Resolution contains state-of -the-art equipment to perform detailed paleomagnetic and rock-magnetic measurements.

Shipboard Procedures

Most shipboard scientists find that the transit to the first site is the best time to become familiar with the ship and routines. Prior to arriving at the first site, the paleomagnetists and the paleomagnetics Marine Specialist should review procedures for each piece of equipment in the lab, check calibrations, and discuss how shipboard paleomagnetic data are processed and plotted. Ideally this should be completed before drilling the first site, amended later in the leg to reflect actual practice, and given in final form to the Staff Scientists before the end of the cruise. A general correlation scheme between biostratigraphic zones, the record of magnetic polarity reversals, seafloor magnetic anomalies, and an absolute time scale should be agreed upon by paleomagnetists and biostratigraphers.

Typically, two paleomagnetists sail on each cruise and work opposite 12-hour shifts. The paleomagnetics Marine Specialist is at present not dedicated full time to the paleomagnetics lab, so that he/she also has responsibilities on the core-receiving deck and in the core lab. The shipboard paleomagnetists conduct or supervise all paleomagnetic measurements and the reduction of paleomagnetic data to intensities and direction of magnetization. Data must be compiled in a manner comfortable with ODP standards and format, as explained by the paleomagnetics Marine Specialist at the beginning of the leg.

Paleomagnetic Samples

In addition to measuring the archive halves of the core, shipboard paleomagnetists normally deal with two categories of discrete samples during the cruise: shipboard samples and personnel samples, which are taken according to individual scientists' approved sample requests and are subject to ODP sampling limits and guidelines.

Core Orientation

Oriented cores provide potentially the best paleomagnetic information. The Eastman-Whipstock multishot tool and the Tensor tool can orient cores to within a few degrees, enabling paleomagnetists to determine the magnetostratigraphy of sediment even from equatorial regions and to study both geomagnetic-field behavior and plate motions.

Partial Demagnetization of Archive Sections

The pass-Through cryogenic magnetometer provides the high-resolution records required in studies of magnetostratigraphy and magnetic-field behavior. An alternating-field (AF) demagnetizer in-line with the cryogenic magnetometer can demagnetize cores up to 80 mT, which, in many cases, is sufficient to remove secondary magnetization. In September 1992 the Information Handling Panel (IHP) recommended that shipboard paleomagnetists be allowed to partially demagnetize the archive half-section of any core to as high a level as is necessary to isolate the characteristic remanence. The maximum demagnetization step size is limited to 15 mT to prevent the destruction of core magnetization without a record of intermediate data. Shipboard paleomagnetists are encouraged to take discrete shipboard samples that can then be demagnetized either thermally or at alternating fields up to 100 mT. These results can then be compared to the results of demagnetization of archive halves to determine whether or not secondary magnetizations were adequately removed.

Cryogenic Magnetometer

The 2G 750-R superconducting rock (cryogenic) magnetometer is used primarily for continuous remanence measurements on archive halves of cores. AF coils arranged on-axis with the magnetometer and set within the magnetometerÍs mu-metal shielding allow uniform demagnetization of the cores, so that both NRM and demagnetized remanences can be measured. The cryogenic magnetometer may also be used to measure and demagnetize discrete samples.

Spinner Magnetometer

The Molspin Minispin spinner magnetometer is a basic field unit interfaced with a microcomputer for control and data acquisition. The software driving the Minispin executes spin sequences and calculates declination, inclination, and intensity in mA/m corrected for the volume of the sample. A series of measurement is made on each sample as it is run through a demagnetization sequence. Ordinarily, six separate spin orientations are required to produce an accurate measurement. In general, the processing rate will vary with the NRM intensity and response to demagnetization of the samples from a particular lithologic unit.

Demagnetizers

A Schonstedt Alternating Field Demagnetizer, Model GSD-1, is available for demagnetization of discrete samples of rock or sediment. The user can select a range of peak alternating fields from 0 to 100 mT. A new DTECH D-2000 AF demagnetizer will be installed during Leg 172. It is capable of reaching peak fields of 200 mT and can be used for ARM and pARM studies.

A Schonstedt Thermal Demagnetizer, Model TSD-1, is used for thermal demagnetization of dry rock samples over a temperature range of 0° to 800°C. The instrument contains magnetically shielded heating and cooling chambers.

Rock Magnetic Equipment

An ASC Impulse Magnetizer, Model IM-10, is available for studies of the acquisition of isothermal remanence (IRM) and anistropy of IRM. The DTECH Partial Anhysteretic Remanent Magnetizer (PARM) can produce a direct current (DC) magnetic field upto 1 mT (10 gauss). The Kappabridge KLY - 2 Magnetic Susceptibility System measures magnetic susceptibility and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility at sensitivities of 0.05 to 200,000 x 10-6 SI. (Because the JOIDES Resolution is a magnetically noisy environment, the sensitivity is less than in shielded rooms in shore-based labs but is sufficient for most shipboard purposes.) Other Equipment includes the Schonstedt Portable Three-Axis Fluxgate Magnetometer and the Barrington Magnetic Susceptibility Meter.

Resources



Program administration | Scientific results | Engineering & science operations | Samples, data, & publications | Outreach | Overview | Site map | Search | Home

For comments or questions, please contact webmaster@iodp.tamu.edu.

Copyright Consortium for Ocean Leadership