9613943 Soreghan The history of late Paleozoic climate is of great interest to both (paleo) climatologists and geologists. Part of this interest derives from curiosity in Pangea's unique geography and correspondingly unique climate. Another part derives from a more applied interest: Upper Paleozoic strata of Pangea house significant resources. Most recent studies cite glacioeustasy as the first-order control on upper Paleozoic strata, but intracyclic climate change likely accompanied late Paleozoic glacioeustasy. Currently, the evidence for and character of this high-frequency climate change is poorly constrained. The objective of this research is to test the feasibility of obtaining high-resolution paleoclimatic data from upper Paleozoic loessite-paleosol sequences using an integrated paleomagnetic-sedimentologic approach. Recent research on Cenozoic loess-paleosol sequences indicates that variations in magnetic susceptibility correlate with changes in paleoclimate. To investigate the application of this paleomagnetic approach to the Paleozoic, magnetic susceptibility will be measured through an upper Paleozoic loessite-paleosol sequence located in western Pangea (Ancestral Rocky Mountains). Patterns in magnetic susceptibility will be integrated with sedimentologic observations to identify paleoclimatic fluctuations. Paleomagnetic and rock magnetic analyses will be performed to (1) characterize the magnetization and (2) assess possible remagnetization. If successful, this approach will provide data on the paleoclimate of low-latitude western Pangea that can be used to address fundamental and applied research questions.
