Palaeomagnetism of Eocene Talerua Member lavas on Hareoen, West Greenland

• The results of a paleomagnetic sampling carried out along two vertical profiles (altogether 19 lava flows, 126 samples) covering the entire stratigraphy of the Talerua Member lavas (similar to 39 Myr old) that outcrop on the island Hareoen are presented and represent some of the youngest volcanism in the West Greenland flood volcanic province. Rock magnetic experiments and microprobe analysis demonstrate that the dominant magnetic mineral in all Studied lavas is titanomagnetite that has experienced variable amounts of high temperature cleuteric oxidation as well as low temperature hydrothermal oxidation. Based on detailed demagnetization experiments, well-defined palaeomagnetic site-mean directions were isolated from all 19 lavas. The composite profile contains two magnetic polarity zones suggesting a maximum duration of Talerua Member volcanism of -1.4 Ma. After grouping flows having the same remanent magnetic field direction, 13 individual readings of the palaeomagnetic fields were obtained. The palaeomagnetic pole with coordinates 76.3 degrees N, 201.5 degrees E (A95=7.4 degrees, K=32.7, N=13) is in good accordance with paleomagnetic poles from other continents rotated back to Greenland using plate kinematic rotation poles.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Geologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Geology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

volcanics

Paleogene

West Greenland

palaeomagnetism

magnetic polarity

North Atlantic igneous province

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)