Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Intensity of the Earth's Magnetic Field in the Geological Past

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

RECENTLY, Krs1,2 has obtained two estimates of the Permo-Carboniferous geomagnetic field intensity from cassiterite, and one estimate of the Permian field intensity from ignimbrite, in central Europe, using the method developed by Thellier and Thellier3. Both the Permo-Carboniferous values (0.50 oersteds and 0.60 oersteds at lat. 50.12° N., long. 12.80° E.; maximum error ±10 per cent) and the Permian value (0.50±0.03 oersteds at lat. 50.63° N., long. 16.30° E.) were similar to the present field intensity in the same region (0.482 oersteds), the implication being that the Earth's field intensity has not changed appreciably since the Permo-Carboniferous. Furthermore, because the cassiterite was obtained from a greisen body. Krs considered that its thermoremaneiit magnetization was acquired over a period long enough to average out secular variations in intensity. The quoted Permo-Carboniferous field intensity estimates were thus thought to represent the mean geomagnetic field rather than the instantaneous field corresponding to a certain point on the secular variation curve.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Krs, M., Studia Geoph. et Geod., 11, 48 (1967).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Krs, M., Nature, 215, 697 (1967).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Thellier, E., and Thellier, O., Ann. Géophys., 15, 285 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Krs, M., Geol. en Mijnbouw, 45, 210 (1966).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Smith, P. J., Geophys. J., 12, 321 (1967).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Smith, P. J., Geophys. J., 13 (in the press).

  7. Smith, P. J., in US Geol. Survey Res., 164 (1967).

  8. Holmes, A., Trans. Edinburgh Geol. Soc., 17, 183 (1959).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. US Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California

    P. J. SMITH

Authors
  1. P. J. SMITH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

SMITH, P. Intensity of the Earth's Magnetic Field in the Geological Past. Nature 216, 989–990 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/216989a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/216989a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

Search

Navigation