ThellierCoolPy: A cooling-rate correction tool for paleointensity data
Author(s)
Muxworthy, Adrian
Baker, Evelyn
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We report a new approach of implementing cooling-rate corrections in absolute ancient magnetic field intensity (paleointensity) studies. Nearly all methods of determining paleointensity estimates rely on rocks having recorded a thermoremanent magnetization (TRM), on cooling from above the rock’s constituent minerals’ Curie temperature. Typically paleointensity estimates are made by comparing natural TRM, with a TRM induced in the laboratory; however, TRM intensity has long been reported to be dependent on cooling rate. Natural cooling rates are impractical in laboratories. We have developed a new cooling-rate correction method and corresponding software (ThellierCoolPy), that directly corrects the unprocessed paleointensity data, using first-order reversal curve data collected on a sister sample. This site tailored cooling-rate correction has a unique correction for each temperature step within the paleointensity data set. This new method differs from previous approaches which apply a blanket cooling-rate correction independent of the material properties of the sample. Paleointensity data from historical lavas from Parícutin, Mexico, are used to demonstrate the new software. For this data set, it is shown that cooling time of 1 million years yields a reduction of the paleointensity of ∼7%. The software is available for download.
Date Issued
2021-12
Date Acceptance
2021-11-22
Citation
G3: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems: an electronic journal of the earth sciences, 2021, 22 (12), pp.1-8
ISSN
1525-2027
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Start Page
1
End Page
8
Journal / Book Title
G3: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems: an electronic journal of the earth sciences
Volume
22
Issue
12
Copyright Statement
© 2021. The Authors.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Sponsor
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Identifier
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2021GC010145
Grant Number
NE/S001018/1
Subjects
02 Physical Sciences
04 Earth Sciences
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-12-03