Secular variation and reversals in a composite 2.5 km thick lava section in central Western Iceland

Leó Kristjánsson*, Haukur Jóhannesson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The direction and intensity of primary remanence has been measured in oriented specimens from 367 lava flows of Late Miocene age in Western Iceland. The lavas which were sampled in 8 overlapping profiles, were generally good material for paleomagnetic measurements. In a 2500-m composite section, at least 15 reversals of polarity and several excursions are recorded. The mean remanence direction and other overall paleomagnetic parameters for the present collection of lavas are similar to those found elsewhere in Iceland. The average rate of buildup of this lava pile was rather low and possibly episodic. Hence, correlations to the geomagnetic polarity time scale and to polarity patterns in other composite sections mapped in Iceland are not straightforward.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)261-276
Number of pages16
JournalEarth, Planets and Space
Volume51
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1999

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgments. Many people assisted in the field and in the laboratory work, especially Haraldur Audunsson, Robert Larter, Jonathan Wilson, Elisabet Thorsteinsdóttir, Sólveig Thorvaldsdóttir and Geirfinnur Jónsson. Dr. Shaul Levi of Oregon State University provided facilities for measuring most of the material from Mt. Grímsstadamúli. This study was in part supported by the Science Fund (Vísindasjódur) of Iceland.

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