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Remanent magnetization of rocks of latest Cretaceous and earliest Tertiary age from drill core at York Canyon, New Mexico

Special Papers of the Geological Society of America
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.1130/SPE209-p131

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Abstract

At the end of 1980, seven complete cores were recovered from a 30-m (100-ft) interval in the Raton Formation at York Canyon, New Mexico. The interval cored spans the palynologically defined Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary, which is marked by a distinctive noble metal–bearing claystone in the Raton basin. Azimuthal orientation of the cores can be recovered both from the average directions of the most stable components of the remanent magnetization, with a root mean square error of 28°, and from the average direction of secondary components of magnetization removed by thermal and alternating field demagnetization, with a root mean square error of 33°. The natural remanent magnetization of about 95 percent of the core is dominated by a secondary normal polarity component. Polarity of the characteristic magnetization of each core, interpreted from 12 to 14 samples per core run, is reversed. No evidence of normal polarity characteristic magnetization was found in the 30-m (100-ft) interval sampled. The characteristic magnetization probably is a depositional remanent magnetization acquired during chron 29r. The noble metal–bearing boundary claystone in the Raton basin is interpreted to be part of a synchronous global deposit laid down at the end of the Cretaceous period.

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Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title Remanent magnetization of rocks of latest Cretaceous and earliest Tertiary age from drill core at York Canyon, New Mexico
Series title Special Papers of the Geological Society of America
DOI 10.1130/SPE209-p131
Volume 209
Year Published 1987
Language English
Publisher Geological Society of America
Description 20 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Monograph
Larger Work Title The Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in the San Juan and Raton Basins, New Mexico and Colorado
First page 131
Last page 150
Country United States
State New Mexico
Other Geospatial Raton basin, York Canyon
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