Magnetostratigraphy of ODP Leg 138 sites

The aims of this study are twofold. First, the study tries to provide the most reliable chronology possible for two critical sections by correlating the magnetic polarity stratigraphy measured in these sediments with a newly revised geomagnetic polarity time scale. Second, this study attempts to examine in detail the nature of seven short events not included in the shipboard standard time scale, but for which abundant magnetostratigraphic evidence was obtained during the Leg.
Data presented here force some modifications of the shipboard interpretations of the magnetostratigraphy of Sites 845 and 844 on the basis of new data generated using discrete samples and from a greater appreciation of the magnetostratigraphic signature of Miocene-age short events. Those short events can be classified into two groups: those that probably reflect short, full-polarity intervals and those that more likely represent an interval of diminished geomagnetic intensity. Three of the seven events documented here correspond well with three subtle features, as seen in marine magnetic profiles, that have been newly included in the geomagnetic polarity time scale as short, full-polarity chrons. One of the seven events corresponds to a poorly defined feature of the marine magnetic record that has also been newly included in the geomagnetic polarity time scale, but which was considered of enigmatic origin. The three remaining events investigated here, although they have not been identified with features in the seafloor magnetic record, are suggested to be events of a similar nature, most likely times of anomalously low geomagnetic intensity.
In addition to the Miocene magnetostratigraphic results given, several sets of averaged paleomagnetic inclinations are presented. Although these results clearly show the effects of a residual coring overprint, they demonstrate that paleomagnetic estimates of paleolatitudes can be made which are in good general agreement with ancient site positions calculated using hot spot-based plate reconstructions.