EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR) -- Tauxe et al. 1990

It is often difficult or impossible to determine the origin of the characteristic remanent magnetization of red beds from the bulk remanence alone. However, anisotropy of remanence or susceptibility is strongly controlled by the statistical alignment of hematite grains; this in turn may reflect the development of the magnetic fabric of the sediment over time, so the shape of the anisotropy ellipsoid may provide clues to the origin of remanence. In this work, we make a study of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) in Siwalik red beds of Miocene age from northern Pakistan. Comparison of the results with detailed petrographic studies and other information suggests that advanced soil development leads to the destruction of primary fabrics and often with it, a coherent magnetization. Furthermore, it should be possible to use AMS fabric information to quantify the degree of pedogenesis in these Miocene soils. We attempted to determine the anisotropy of isothermal remanence (AIR) but found AMS to be the technique of choice because of apparent changes in coercivity during AIR experiments. We interpret the AIR data as resulting from metastable domains in hematite grains which change domain state during the AIR Experiment. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1990 It is often difficult or impossible to determine the origin of the characteristic remanent magnetization of red beds from the bulk remanence alone. However, anisotropy of remanence or susceptibility is strongly controlled by the statistical alignment of hematite grains; this in turn may reflect the development of the magnetic fabric of the sediment over time, so the shape of the anisotropy ellipsoid may provide clues to the origin of remanence. In this work, we make a study of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) in Siwalik red beds of Miocene age from northern Pakistan. Comparison of the results with detailed petrographic studies and other information suggests that advanced soil development leads to the destruction of primary fabrics and often with it, a coherent magnetization. Furthermore, it should be possible to use AMS fabric information to quantify the degree of pedogenesis in these Miocene soils. We attempted to determine the anisotropy of isothermal remanence (AIR) but found AMS to be the technique of choice because of apparent changes in coercivity during AIR experiments. We interpret the AIR data as resulting from metastable domains in hematite grains which change domain state during the AIR Experiment. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1990