A detailed record of the Lower Jaramillo polarity transition from a southern hemisphere deep sea sediment core

A detailed record of the lower Jaramillo (reversed to normal) polarity transition was obtained from a southern hemisphere, deep-sea sediment core (latitude = 35.91°E, longitude = 59.97°E) The record consists of over 850 samples taken across 140 cm of section. The transition itself is recorded across approximately 70 cm and is represented by more than 475 specimens from about 160 levels giving intermediate directions. The transition is identified by a nearly 180° shift from directions in good agreement with a reversed, axial dipole field to those closely aligned with a normal, axial dipole field for the core site latitude. The inclinations shallow gradually early in the reversal and pass through very steep negative values (-80°) late in the transition. The declinations show little appreciable variation until the inclinations have moved through the near vertical, and then slowly approach values in agreement with a normal polarity field. An intensity low accompanies the directional change during which the intensity drops to less than 15% of the maximum values observed in this sample interval. The intensity fluctuation spans a wider interval than the directional change, decreasing prior to any systematic change in the directions and then increasing to pre-transition levels by the same depth at which the directions have stabilized. The VGP path constructed for this reversal is longitudinally constrained to a certain extent, between 140° and 230° for intermediate VGP latitudes and is roughly centered 120° from the site longitude. This path is therefore a far-sided VGP path in Hoffman's [1977] terminology. Assuming a constant sedimentation rate (67m/Ma) through the Jaramillo Subchron, the duration of the transition is estimated to be 11,200 years to 4,500 years (depending on the criteria) for the directional change, whereas the associated intensity variation occurred over 15,000 to 20,000 years. Considered together with records of the most recent reversal (Matuyama/Brunhes) in light of current transitional field models, this record strongly suggests that the lower Jaramillo transitional field was dominated by different harmonics than the Matuyam/Brunhes transitional field

Geomagnetic Polarity Transition Records from Five Hydraulic Piston Core Sites in the North Atlantic

Eleven geomagnetic polarity transition records from five hydraulic piston core sites in the North Atlantic are presented. The Matuyama-Brunhes reversal was sampled at five sites and the upper and lower Jaramillo and upper Olduvai transitions were each sampled at two sites. The wet sediment was sampled by taking U-channel samples across the reversals, as defined by conventional shipboard magnetostratigraphic studies. The U-channel samples were subsampled on shore by taking successive 0.5-cm-thick slices of the sediment. The amount of detail contained in the records of these transitions is not always directly related to sedimentation rate. In seven out of eleven transitions, detailed sampling of cores deposited at moderate to high sedimentation rates (30-50 m/m.y.) failed to produce detailed transition records. The lack of intermediate directions demonstrated to be carried by single-component magnetizations indicates that these sections do not contain accurate records of transitional field behavior. The four transitions sampled from Hole 609B (82.5 m/m.y.), however, exhibit intermediate directions that are carried by univectorial magnetizations. A progression of directions through these reversals is also observed. These records therefore satisfy the basic criteria required to allow this interpretation in terms of geomagnetic field behavior. Data from these mid-northern latitude transitions place additional constraints on existing transitional field models of the Matuyama-Brunhes reversal. The lower Jaramillo and upper Olduvai transitions obtained in this study are compared with records of these same reversals at a midsouthern latitude site. Comparison of these transitions reveals symmetries that are dependent upon the sense of the reversal with respect to the hemisphere on which the site is located. These symmetries are predicted by two different transitional field models in which an axisymmetric quadrupole term is dominant

A comparison of two sequential geomagnetic polarity transitions (upper Olduvai and lower Jaramillo) from the Southern Hemisphere

Two normal to reverse (N to R) geomagnetic polarity transitions were obtained from a Southern Hemisphere deep-sea sediment core (35.91°S, 59.97°E). The upper Jaramillo reversal was continuously sampled by taking 0.5 cm thick samples across 55 cm of section, and the upper Olduvai reversal was sampled in a similar manner across 60 cm. Both records are characterized by full normal and reverse polarity directions which are in very good agreement with those predicted by axial dipole fields for the core site latitude. Each record also exhibits a zone yielding intermediate directions. Because of a large increase in both the within-level and the between-level scatter in the upper Jaramillo transition zone, it is not considered to represent an accurate record of the geomagnetic field. The upper Olduvai transition, however, appears to be a more coherent record. It is characterized by directions that shallow early in the reversal but then rapidly steepen to nearly vertical, upward directions. The declinations do not change until the inclinations have passed through the vertical. The total directional change occurs within a broad NRM intensity minimum. The virtual geomagnetic pole (VGP) path calculated for this record is not longitudinally constrained but instead exhibits a westward progression through the reversal. When considered together with the lower Jaramillo transition previously reported from this core, these records constitute a set of sequential Southern Hemisphere transitions. A number of striking similarities exist in the two records such as steep, upward directions and a shallowing which occurs between the near vertical and the full polarity directions. The results of zonal harmonic modeling of these records are consistent with the idea of a standing field which persisted across both the upper Olduvai and lower Jaramillo reversals

On the relationship between palaeomagnetic secular variation and excursions-records from MIS 8-ODP leg 172

Author Posting. © Oxford University Press, 2021. This article is posted here by permission of [publisher] for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Lund, S., Acton, G., Clement, B., Okada, M., & Keigwin, L. On the relationship between palaeomagnetic secular variation and excursions-records from MIS 8-ODP leg 172. Geophysical Journal International, 225(2), (2021): 1129-1141, https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggaa564.Palaeomagnetic secular variation (PSV) and excursion data obtained across MIS 8 (243–300 ka) from the western North Atlantic Ocean ODP (Ocean Drilling Program) sites 1060–1063 show composite high-resolution PSV records (both directions and relative palaeointensity) developed for each site and intercompared. Two methods of chronostratigraphy allow us to date these records. First, we used published results that compared the calcium carbonate records of ODP Leg 172 sediments and tuned them with Milankovich cyclicity. We also compared our palaeointensity records with the PISO-1500 global palaeointensity record that was dated with oxygen isotope stratigraphy. We prefer the PISO-1500 record to date our cores. Two excursions are preserved in our PSV records—Excursions 8α and 9α. Our revised age estimates for both excursions are 8α (236.7–239.8 ka) and 9α (283.7–286.9 ka). We have compared shipboard measurements of the two excursions with u-channel measurements of selected excursion intervals. Excursion 8α is interpreted as a ‘Class II’ excursion (local reversal) with in-phase inclination and declination changes; Excursion 9α is a ‘Class I’ excursion with 90° out-of-phase inclination and declination changes. Averaged directions (after removal of true excursional directions) and relative palaeointensity in 3 and 9 ka overlapping intervals show significant PSV directional variability over 104 yr timescales that is regionally correlatable among the four sites. A notable pattern of angular dispersion variability involves most time spent with low (∼10°) dispersion, with three shorter intervals of high (∼25°) dispersion. The relative palaeointensity variability also shows significant variability over 104 yr timescales with three notable intervals of low palaeointensity in all four records and a direct correspondence between the three low-palaeointensity intervals and the three intervals of high angular dispersion. The two magnetic field excursions occur in two of the three low-palaeointensity/high-dispersion intervals. This suggests that the geomagnetic field operates in two states between reversals, one with regular to high palaeointensity and low directional variability and one with low palaeointensity and significantly higher directional variability and excursions

A synthesis of magnetostratigraphic results from Pliocene-Pleistocene sediments cored using the hydraulic piston corer

We present a summary evaluation of the distribution and qualitative ranking of the Plio-Pleistocene magnetostratigraphic results obtained to date from Deep Sea Drilling Project and Ocean Drilling Program piston-cored sites. A review of the published magnetostratigraphic records provides insights into the important extrinsic and intrinsic factors which affect the quality of the paleomagnetic records. The extrinsic factors originate with drilling processes, such as core barrel remagnetization, and steps can be taken to reduce these effects and improve the data quality. The distribution of the high-quality records correlates well both with areas of terrigenous sediment input as well as regions of moderate biological productivity. This suggests that important intrinsic factors include the origin of the original magnetic carrier in the sediment (lithogenic or biogenic) and the degree to which the magnetic carrier has been affected by reduction diagenesis

Imaging Complex Structure in Shallow Seismic-reflection Data Using Prestack Depth Migration

Prestack depth migration (PSDM) analysis has the potential to significantly improve the accuracy of both shallow seismic reflection images and the measured velocity distributions. In a study designed to image faults in the Alvord Basin, Oregon, at depths from 25–1000 m, PSDM produced a detailed reflection image over the full target depth range. In contrast, poststack time migration produced significant migration artifacts in the upper 100 m that obscured reflection events and limited the structural interpretation in the shallow section. Additionally, an abrupt increase from ~2500 to \u3e3000 m/s in the PSDM velocity model constrained the interpretation of the transition from sedimentary basin fill to basement volcanic rocks. PSDM analysis revealed a complex extensional history with at least two distinct phases of basin growth and a midbasin basement high that forms the division between two major basin compartments

Latitudinal dependency of geomagnetic polarity transition durations

Palaeomagnetic records of the Matuyama-Brunhes polarity transition were obtained from seven, low sedimentation rate, deepsea cores from the Pacific Ocean. The cores were taken near the 180° meridian and provide a latitudinal transect of transition records extending from 45.3° N to 33.4° S. Examination of these records suggests that low sedimentation rate cores may not be capable of recording the fine details of transitional field behaviour, but there are indications that these cores may, in fact, provide accurate records of the more general features of the reversal. Most notable of these features is that the duration of the transition is dependent on the site latitude, with durations at mid-latitudes being more than a factor of 2 longer than at equatorial latitudes

A simplified extractive metallurgy exercise to demonstrate selective extraction of copper

A laboratory activity is described for senior high school or 1st year undergraduate level students that illustrates key concepts linked to extractive metallurgy. This experiment demonstrates preferential binding of a methoxyphenolic oxime ligand to Cu2+ in the presence of other transition metal ions in aqueous solution. The students are tasked to investigate the importance of the spatial relationship between the oxime and phenol group of two potential ligands by performing a series of short and simple tests. The objective is achieved by identifying which methoxyphenolic oxime ligand selectively and rapidly forms an isolable precipitate with Cu2+ ions. Only one of the potential ligands exhibits a clear preference for binding to Cu2+ and this can easily be identified visually (and confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy if desired). The experiment has successfully been employed as part of an extracurricular laboratory course involving groups of 25-30 high school students.PostprintPeer reviewe

Production of Lambda and Sigma^0 hyperons in proton-proton collisions

This paper reports results on simultaneous measurements of the reaction channels pp -> pK+\Lambda and pp -> pK+\Sigma^0 at excess energies of 204, 239, and 284 MeV (\Lambda) and 127, 162, and 207 MeV (\Sigma^0). Total and differential cross sections are given for both reactions. It is concluded from the measured total cross sections that the high energy limit of the cross section ratio is almost reached at an excess energy of only about 200 MeV. From the differential distributions observed in the overall CMS as well as in the Jackson and helicity frames, a significant contribution of interfering nucleon resonances to the \Lambda production mechanism is concluded while resonant \Sigma^0-production seems to be of lesser importance and takes place only through specific partial waves of the entrance channel. The data also indicate that kaon exchange plays a minor role in the case of \Lambda- but an important role for \Sigma^0-production. Thus the peculiar energy dependence of the \Lambda-to-\Sigma^0 cross section ratio appears in a new light as its explanation requires more than mere differences between the p\Lambda and the p\Sigma^0 final state interaction. The data provide a benchmark for theoretical models already available or yet to come.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures; accepted by The European Physical Journal A (EPJ A