About this Research Topic

Background

Magnetic methods are important for assigning timescales to sedimentary sequences. Magnetostratigraphy and correlation to the Geological Polarity Time Scale (GPTS) constitute a standard dating tool in Earth Sciences, applicable to a wide variety of sedimentary rock types formed under different environmental conditions (continental, lacustrine, marine).

Relative paleointensity variations observed in younger marine sequences can be used to correlate and assign time to recent marine sediments. Astronomically-forced climate cycles encoded in magnetic properties of sediment enable high-resolution time calibration of sedimentary sequences from the Precambrian to the present. Magnetic methods have been used to improve dating of the geological record, characterize paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes, and resolve sedimentation dynamics in tectonically active basins through integration of magnetostratigraphy with bio-, cyclo- and chemostratigraphy, and geochronology.

We welcome original research, methods, and review articles on topics including, but not limited to:

• Magnetostratigraphy and correlation to or refinement of the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale;
• Rock magnetic cyclostratigraphy and assignment of high-resolution time to sedimentary sequences to solve geologic problems or refine the geologic time scale;
• Relative paleointensity measurements for assignment of time to and correlation of young marine or lacustrine sediments;
• Integration of magnetic techniques with biostratigraphic, cyclostratigraphic, chemostratigraphic and geochronologic techniques to assign time to sedimentary sequences; and
• Any use of magnetics to assign time to or correlate a geologic sequence.

Keywords: magnetostratigraphy, cyclostratigraphy, sediments, timescales, GPTS

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