Paleomagnetism is the study of the ancient magnetic field of both rocks and the Earth as a whole. Paleomagnetism has provided very strong quantitative evidence for polar wander and continental drift. It is interesting to note, however, that although this evidence was published in the late 1950s, the concept of continental drift did not gain widespread acceptance until the mid-1960s.
Lodestone is a naturally magnetic variety of magnetite that is so strongly magnetized that it was used to make the first compasses. Most rocks are less strongly magnetized, but all rocks have at least some degree of magnetism. This magnetism is caused by the alignment of the magnetic field of the magnetic minerals within a rock. These magnetic minerals include hematite, ilmenite, and maghemite in addition to magnetite (Irving, 1964). By measuring the direction and inclination of the magnetic field of a rock, it is possible to determine the position of the magnetic poles (paleomagnetic poles) of the Earth...
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Seyfert, C.K. (1987). Continental drift, paleomagnetic evidence . In: Structural Geology and Tectonics. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31080-0_15
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