This grant, made through the Major Research Instrumentation Program, funds the acquisition of a 2-G Enterprises 755R superconducting rock magnetometer system (SRM) for the paleomagnetic laboratory in the new Physics, Earth, and Environmental Science Center at Occidental College. The SRM will replace an aging spinner fluxgate magnetometer and allow rapid measurement of the remanence of both strongly- and weakly-magnetized geological samples. It will primarily be used by the PIs and undergraduate research assistants for projects concerning the tectonics of western North America, the magnetostratigraphy of Pacific coast Cenozoic sections, and the behavior of the geomagnetic field during polarity transitions. The Occidental College paleomagnetic laboratory will also be available for use by researchers and students from other institutions. In particular, the PIs anticipate relieving some of the pressure on Dr. Joseph Kirschvink's heavily-used lab at the California Institute of Technology. ***
