Paleomagnetic direction and paleointensity variations during the Matuyama-Brunhes polarity transition from a marine succession in the Chiba composite section of the Boso Peninsula, central Japan

Type Article
Date 2017-03-21
Language English
Author(s) Okada Makoto1, Suganuma Yusuke2, 3, Haneda Yuki1, Kazaoka Osamu4
Affiliation(s) 1 : Ibaraki Univ, Dept Earth Sci, 2-1-1 Bunkyo, Mito, Ibaraki 3108512, Japan.
2 : Natl Inst Polar Res, 10-3 Midoricho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 1908518, Japan.
3 : SOKENDAI, Dept Polar Sci, 10-3 Midoricho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 1908518, Japan.
4 : Res Inst Environm Geol, 3-5-1 Inagekaigan, Chiba, Chiba 2610005, Japan.
Source Earth Planets And Space (1880-5981) (Springer Heidelberg), 2017-03-21 , Vol. 69 , N. 45 , P. 19p.
DOI 10.1186/s40623-017-0627-1
WOS© Times Cited 44
Keyword(s) Paleomagnetism, Magnetostratigraphy, Matuyama-Brunhes boundary, Paleointensity, Marine isotope stage (MIS) 19, Chiba composite section
Abstract

The youngest geomagnetic polarity reversal, the Matuyama-Brunhes (M-B) boundary, provides an important plane of data for sediments, ice cores, and lavas. The geomagnetic field intensity and directional changes that occurred during the reversal also provide important information for understanding the dynamics of the Earth's outer core, which generates the magnetic field. However, the reversal process is relatively rapid in terms of the geological timescale; therefore, adequate temporal resolution of the geomagnetic field record is essential for addressing these topics. Here, we report a new high-resolution paleomagnetic record from a continuous marine succession in the Chiba composite section of the Kokumoto Formation of the Kazusa Group, Japan, that reveals detailed behaviors of the virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs) and relative paleointensity changes during the M-B polarity transition. The resultant relative paleointensity and VGP records show a significant paleointensity minimum near the M-B boundary, which is accompanied by a clear "polarity switch." A newly obtained high-resolution oxygen isotope chronology for the Chiba composite section indicates that the M-B boundary is located in the middle of marine isotope stage (MIS) 19 and yields an age of 771.7 ka for the boundary. This age is consistent with those based on the latest astronomically tuned marine and ice core records and with the recalculated age of 770.9 +/- 7.3 ka deduced from the U-Pb zircon age of the Byk-E tephra. To the best of our knowledge, our new paleomagnetic data represent one of the most detailed records on this geomagnetic field reversal that has thus far been obtained from marine sediments and will therefore be key for understanding the dynamics of the geomagnetic dynamo and for calibrating the geological timescale.

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Publisher's official version 19 2 MB Open access
Additional file 1 Rock-magnetic and paleomagnetic results from the Yoro-River and Yoro-Tabuchi sections, which were used for Figure 6. 120 KB Open access
Additional file 2. Oxygen isotope data of benthic species from the Yoro-River and Yoro-Tabuchi sections. The δ18O values of the Cibicides spp. were converted into those of B. 46 KB Open access
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How to cite 

Okada Makoto, Suganuma Yusuke, Haneda Yuki, Kazaoka Osamu (2017). Paleomagnetic direction and paleointensity variations during the Matuyama-Brunhes polarity transition from a marine succession in the Chiba composite section of the Boso Peninsula, central Japan. Earth Planets And Space, 69(45), 19p. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-017-0627-1 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00420/53174/