Paleomagnetic properties of ODP Hole 166-1006A carbonate sediments

Paleomagnetic analyses from discrete samples of carbonate sediment from Hole 1006A were completed to assess the nature of magnetic remanence and to evaluate the use of directional data for a magnetic reversal stratigraphy. Magnetic remanence in these carbonates was moderate to weak but was stable enough to reliably identify polarity in 26.7% of the samples. The remaining 73.3% samples were judged either too weak or unstable, or else they exhibited a very steep inclination interpreted to be the result of some type of drilling overprint. Thus, magnetic polarity data from Hole 1006A should be used with caution. The nature of magnetic remanence and some reconnaissance acquisition tests suggest that single-domain magnetite (with some possible alteration to maghemite) is the dominant source of the remanent magnetization.