Sediments from oceans and continents constitute a valuable recorder for fluctuations of geomagnetic field direction and intensity. Paleodirectional studies from such sediments have made important contributions to magnetostratigraphy, continental margin accretionary tectonics, and to core processes which lead to reversals and secular variation of the geomagnetic field. Reliable paleointensity data can provide a new higher resolution tool for magnetostratigraphy and constraints for unique descriptions of geomagnetic field models to explain reversals and secular variation. This study will elucidate important effects of clay and silica content on the recorded paleodirection and intensity of natural remanent magnetization (NRM) and carry out a combined laboratory and field study to develop a better acquisition model for ocean sediment magnetization and design more reliable techniques for extracting geomagnetic paleointensity from sediments.
