Development of a CO2 Laser System for Paleointensity Analyses of Single Plagioclase Crystals

University Of Rochester, Rochester NY

Investigators

Abstract

0091403 Tarduno This award provides funding support for the development of a novel technique to measure the intensity of the earth's magnetic field in the past at the time of cooling of volcanic rocks. The method is based on the Thellier-Thellier analysis of magnetism in single grains of plagioclase feldspar crystals formed during cooling. A new CO2 laser heating system will permit in situ step-heating of single feldspar grains in petrographic thin sections during the analysis of paleomagnetic intensity and represents an advance in the reliability of the paleomagnetic measurement. Determining the intensity and direction of the earth's paleomagnetic field is a necessary tool for reconstructing past tectonic plate motions and gaining an understanding of past processes in the metallic core of the earth. ***