Definition
Paleomagnetism is the study of the Earth’s ancient magnetic field, based on the measurement and analysis of the remanent (i.e., permanent) magnetization acquired by rocks during their formation.
Introduction
Paleomagnetism provides data that are useful in the interpretation of geologic processes. For paleomagnetic results to be reliable for this purpose, several important conditions must be fulfilled. First, a rock under investigation must be able to record accurately the direction and intensity of the weak geomagnetic field during its formation or later alteration. This requires an understanding of the magnetic properties of rocks and minerals. Second, the age of the formation of the rock or its subsequent alteration must be well known. Field tests based on the local and regional geology of a sampling site are valuable in this respect. Third, the remanent magnetization of the rock must possess outstanding stability in order to be able to persist unchanged for geologic eons.
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Lowrie, W. (2011). Paleomagnetism, Principles. In: Gupta, H.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Solid Earth Geophysics. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8702-7_107
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8702-7_107
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