Paleointensity experiment using zircon crystal sampled from river sand: toward reconstruction of magnetic field variation during last 4 Ga

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26610142
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Solid earth and planetary physics
• Research Institution: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (2015-2016); Kyushu University (2014)
• Principal Investigator: Sato Masahiko 国立研究開発法人産業技術総合研究所, 地質情報研究部門, 研究員 (50723277)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 古地磁気強度 / ジルコン / 岩石磁気 / 丹沢 / 長江 / ミシシッピ川

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study we focused on zircon crystal sampled from sand of major river, and conducted rock-magnetic and paleomagnetic experiment using single zircon crystal sampled from the sand. During a survey period we established the non-magnetic preparation method of zircon for paleomagnetic study and the rock-magnetic and paleomagnetic measurement technique for single zircon crystal. On the basis of experimental results we proposed the criteria to select suitable sample for paleointensity study, and we also demonstrated paleointensity experiment using the sample satisfying the criteria. We established a ground of paleomagnetic study using single zircon crystal, and the results from this study suggested that single zircon crystal would be applicable to paleointensity experiments.

Free Research Field

固体地球物理学