Paleomagnetic records from holocene-pleistocene sediments from south Argentina

GOGORZA, C.S.G.; IRURZUN, M.A.; CHAPARRO, M.A.E.; LIRIO, J.M.; NUÑEZ, H.; VILAS, J.F.; SINITO, A.M.

Toulouse (Francia)

Congreso; 10th. Scientific Assembly of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy; 2005

International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy

Paleomagnetic studies carried out on six cores from the bottom sediments from lake El Trébol, South Argentina are described. Measurements of intensity (NRM) and directions (D and I) of Natural Remanent Magnetization, magnetic susceptibility at low and high frequency (specific, X and volumetric, k), Isothermal Remanent Magnetization (IRM), Saturation Isothermal Remanent Magnetization (SIRM), back field and Anhysteric Remanent Magnetization (ARM) were carried out. Stability of the NRM was investigated by alternating-field demagnetization. The studies of rock magnetism suggest that the main carriers of magnetization are ferrimagnetic minerals, predominantly pseudo single domain magnetite. Records of NRM and k show a good correlation with the sedimentological description, and also with those of shorter cores previously studied. The tephra layers were identified from the lithologic profiles and also from the magnetic susceptibility logs. Due to their different chronological meaning and their rather bad behavior as magnetic recorder, these layers were removed from the sequence and the gaps that were produced along the profiles by the removal were closed, obtaining a shortened depth. Radiocarbons dating from these cores and from earlier studies help us to construct a paleosecular variation (PSV) record for the past 24,000 years. These results show good correlation with the previous one. The spectrum obtained from spectral analysis shows major peaks at periodicities of about 1,550; 2,100; 2,900; 3,500; 4,400; 6,200 and 10,600 years for inclination data and at periodicities of about 4,000; 5,450 and 10,300 years for declination data. Both clockwise and counterclockwise precession of the geomagnetic vector is evident from analysis of the Bauer plots, with a preponderance of clockwise movement.