Polar wander

Polar wander

Polar wander refers to the apparent movement of the Earth's magnetic poles over time, as observed through changes in the magnetic remanence of regolith materials. The path of this movement is known as the Apparent Polar Wander Path, and is used in the paleomagnetic method to match magnetic remanence with the relevant region.From: Earth Materials [2019], Phanerozoic history of the Pilbara region: implications for iron mineralisation [2022]

Earth Systems and Cycles

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Published in Dexter Perkins, Kevin R. Henke, Adam C. Simon, Lance D. Yarbrough, Earth Materials, 2019

Dexter Perkins, Kevin R. Henke, Adam C. Simon, Lance D. Yarbrough

The study of the magnetic fields recorded by rocks is called paleomagnetism. Paleomagnetic studies reveal not only the direction to the magnetic pole, but also the distance to the pole. So, by studying ancient rocks, scientists learn where Earth’s north and south magnetic poles were at different times in the past. Geophysical considerations indicate that Earth can only have a single set of north and south poles at a given time, and paleomagnetic studies showed that the magnetic poles, while staying near the rotational axis, have wandered slightly (moved around some with respect to the rotational axis) over geological time. The change in pole positions is called apparent polar wander.

Phanerozoic history of the Pilbara region: implications for iron mineralisation

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Published in Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 2022

C. S. Perring, J. M. A. Hronsky, M. Crowe

One way to constrain the regolith history in more detail is direct dating of regolith materials. So far, the methods used have included paleomagnetic dating of regolith iron oxides, (U–Th)/He dating of iron oxides, K/Ar and 40Ar/39Ar dating of K-bearing manganese oxides, K/Ar dating of alunite and oxygen isotope dating of kaolinite (Abrajevitch et al., 2014; Anand & Paine, 2002; Bird et al., 1990; Chivas & Atlhopheng, 2010; Dammer et al., 1999; Heim et al., 2006; Pillans, 2005; Schmidt & Williams, 2017; Vasconcelos et al., 2013). The paleomagnetic method is based on matching measured magnetic remanence in regolith materials with the Apparent Polar Wander Path for the relevant region.

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Phanerozoic history of the Pilbara region: implications for iron mineralisation