Title

Flow and emplacement direction determined for selected basaltic bodies using magnetic susceptibility anisotropy measurements

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1978

Abstract

Low-field anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) has been determined for a total of 248 basaltic specimens taken from cross sections between the cooling interfaces of 6 subaerial lavas, 6 deep-sea lavas, and 6 intrusives (5 dikes and 1 sill). Statistically significant AMS clusters are exhibited by all the dikes examined and, based upon these clusters, derivation of emplacement direction becomes possible. Two lavas are observed to have statistically significant AMS clusters which can be used for flow direction determinations. The methods of emplacement and flow direction analysis are discussed as well as the statistics used. It is concluded that most of the dikes examined have low angle emplacement directions. A classification scheme for AMS data distributions is presented. The AMS analysis shows that intrusives and deep-sea lavas can be distinguished from subaerial lavas approximately 80% of the time by the random AMS ellipsoid orientations exhibited in subaerial lavas. Contrasts in the fluid properties, degassing, wall effects with subsequent distortion of the fluid, and grain interaction during the extrusion of subaerial lavas can be expected to distort magnetic grain alignment. Further effects such as convection and secondary processes contribute to yield the random distributions observed for most of these bodies. © 1978.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Earth and Planetary Science Letters

First Page

254

Last Page

264

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