Measurements of the evolution of the Earth's ancient magnetic field may help constrain when the field first originated, when rapid convection began in the outer core, and the time of origin of the inner core. These events in turn may have had critical implications for the evolution the planetary interior, atmosphere, and life. However, little is known about the early history of the Earth's magnetic field due to the general absence of unaltered, ancient materials. However, the investigator's preliminary work suggests that part of the Shaw Batholith and other rocks in the Pilbara craton, Western Australia likely retain magnetic records dating back to their formation from 2.2-3.5 billion years ago. These rocks may therefore contain some of the oldest known paleomagnetic records on Earth. This grant will help determine the age and nature of the magnetization in the northernmost portion of the Shaw Batholith and to establish whether it retains records of the oldest geomagnetic reversals, and (2) begin to assess the fidelity of the geomagnetic, magnetostratigraphic, and environmental magnetic records in surface and drill core samples from other areas of the Pilbara. --

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Earth Sciences (EAR)
Application #
0408928
Program Officer
Robin Reichlin
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2004-07-01
Budget End
2007-06-30
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$200,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02139