Analysis of an Updated Paleointensity Database (Q(PI)-PINT) for 65-200 Ma: Implications for the Long-Term History of Dipole Moment Through the Mesozoic

The global paleointensity database for 65–200 Ma was analyzed using a modified suite of paleointensity quality criteria (QPI) such that the likely reliability of measurements is assessed objectively and as consistently as possible across the diverse data set. This interval was chosen because of dramatic extremes of geomagnetic polarity reversal frequency ranging from greater than 10 reversals per million years in the Jurassic hyperactivity period (155–171 Ma) to effectively zero during the Cretaceous Normal Superchron (CNS; 84–126 Ma). Various attempts to establish a relationship between the strength of Earth\u27s magnetic field and the reversal frequency have been made by previous studies, but no consensus has yet been reached primarily because of large uncertainties in paleointensity estimates and sensitivity of these estimates to data selection approaches. It is critical to overcome this problem because the evolution of the dipole moment is a first order constraint on the behavior of the geodynamo. Here we show that conventional statistical tests and Bayesian changepoint modeling consistently indicate the strongest median/average virtual dipole moment during the CNS. In addition, the CNS and Jurassic hyperactivity period are characterized by the highest and lowest percentage of virtual dipole moments exceeding the overall median for the 65‐ to 200‐Ma interval, respectively. These observations suggest that the superchron dynamo was able to generate stronger fields than the dynamo operating in the frequently reversing regime. While the precise mechanism remains unclear, our results are compatible with the hypothesis that field strength and reversal rate variation are controlled by changes in core‐mantle boundary thermochemical conditions

Neoarchean-mesoproterozoic mafic dyke swarms of the indian shield mapped using google earth™ images and arcgis™, and links with large igneous provinces

We present dyke swarm maps generated using Google Earth™ images, ArcGIS™, field data, and available geochronological ages of Neoarchean-Mesoproterozoic (ranging in age from ~2.80 to ~1.10Â Ga) mafic dyke swarms and associated magmatic units of the different Archean cratons of the Indian shield which represent the plumbing system of Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs). The spatial and temporal distributions together with the trends of the dyke swarms provide important informations about geodynamics. Twenty four dyke swarms (17 have been precisely dated), mostly mafic in nature, have been mapped from the different cratons and named/re-named to best reflect their location, trend, distribution and distinction from other swarms. We have identified 14 distinct magmatic events during the Neoarchean-Mesoproterozoic in the Indian shield. These intraplate magmatic events (many of LIP scale) of the Indian shield and their matches with coeval LIPs on other crustal blocks suggest connections of the Indian shield within known supercontinents, such as Kenorland/Superia (~2.75–2.07Â Ga), Columbia/Nuna (1.90–1.38Â Ga), and Rodinia (1.20–0.72Â Ga). However, further detailed U–Pb geochronology and associated paleomagnetism are required to come to any definite constraints on the position of the Indian cratons within these supercontinents