Paleomagnetic investigation of some volcanic rocks from the McMurdo volcanic province, Antarctica

Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth
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Abstract

Paleomagnetic data for lava flows from sporadic but long-lived eruptions in the McMurdo Sound region are combined with previously published geologic and geochronologic data to determine the general eruptive sequence of the area. Lava flows in the Walcott Bay area were erupted during the Gauss Normal, Matuyama Reversed, and Brunhes Normal Polarity Chrons. The youngest flows on Black Island probably erupted near the boundary between the Gilbert and Gauss chrons. The most recent activity was concentrated on the volcanic edifices of Mounts Morning and Discovery and on Ross Island where Mount Erebus is currently active. Combining virtual geomagnetic poles calculated for 39 units sampled during this study with those of eight flows that were published previously yields a mean paleomagnetic pole at 87.3°N, 317.3°E (α95 = 6.3°). The ancient geomagnetic field dispersion about this mean pole is 23.5°, with upper and lower limits of 95% confidence equal to 27.4° and 20.5°, respectively. This value probably is a reasonable estimate of secular variation for the Antarctic continent during Pliocene and Pleistocene time.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Paleomagnetic investigation of some volcanic rocks from the McMurdo volcanic province, Antarctica
Series title Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth
DOI 10.1029/JB093iB10p11599
Volume 93
Issue B10
Year Published 1988
Language English
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Description 14 p.
First page 11599
Last page 11612
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