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0275432 0 v.-/ pother'work* reported in t bi 2p % ' $ r ' s ?§ was 'carri e^ ^ d ^ V --' ■ ‘ . V' ’'"; ■ V.' •■■•■ . <$,-'W»*VV at Leeds University and at Imperial College* Londai^f(under the supervision of the late Prof. J.V. Watson). Tbe, bulk of the non-palaeomagnetic work* which formed a very .ffcjjdrtant and integral part of the overall study* was per^ffted f,t ,:V .. , .. -jy 4*.« • ■■ Imperial College. This work is referred to a n c& JH scussed ■ 7 * r :*Vi ■ throughout the thesis* particularly in chapter 6 V - im parts of chapters 3*T,7 and 8. Selected raw data are gi.ye/ijVin;;:; • K appendices C and D. Conclusions based specifically on mi nera logi c “J 1 ----1 ~ ~ 1 ~ - - - ---- - sections 9.3 and 9.4 Imperial College & Science Museum Libraries London SW7 2AZ Issue Desk Tel. 020-7594 8810 LONG LOAN To be returned by the last date stamped (normally one term), or after three weeks if the book is reserved by another reader. A fine may be charged if the book is returned late. Palaeomagnetfsm of Old Red Sandstones and related rocks of the Orcadian Basin, including mineralogical studies of the remanence carriers Martin A. Robinson Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the Diploma of the Imperial College (DIC) Main depart men t: A Iso at: Dept- of Earth Sciences Dept. of Geology The University Impe rial College Leeds London February 1986 ABSTRACT A wide range of rock types, including sediments# extrusive lavas and intrusive igneous rocks# have been analysed in an attempt to suggest a model for remanence acquisition in the Orcadian Basin. Extrusive lavas and their baked contacts (of upper Middle ORS age) give a mean palaeomagnetic pole position of Lat. ION# Long. 163E. This is proposed as a good estimate of the upper Middle ORS geomagnetic field with respect to northern Scotland. A similar pole to that of the lavas is found in many sediments# particularly those of Emsian or upper ORS age. The primary remanence is carried predominantly in hematite although a few sites which escaped early oxidation may show a primary magnetite component. Oxidation of detrital magnetite is considered to be the chief mechanism by which a primary hematitic remanence was acquired. Detrital grains often show marked martitisation textures indicative of oxidation; they give analyses strongly suggestive of hematite. The primary remanence may be found in close association with a secondary Carboniferous-Permian component# often in the same specimen. Attempts have been made to characterise the nature of this secondary remanence using a variety of techniques# particularly electron microscopy and geochemical analysis. These would seem to suggest that much of the secondary remanence resulted from the diagenesis of ferroan carbonates; these may constitute a large part of the rock (e.g. the Midle ORS lacustrine laminites# which have been totally remagnetised) or may be present only as a minor cement (e.g. some of the Lower ORS and many other formations). Delayed martitisation probably also occurred# as evidenced by late diagenetic titanium oxides. A model is proposed in which remagnetisation of sediments occurred during the Kiaman reversed polarity period as a result of a very deeply depressed water table level# resulting from extreme continentality and aridity. This enabled processes to occur to a very great depth which are normally associated with surface conditions. Such processes are those which require the free flow of water and/or high Eh# such as oxidation of magnetite and calcitisation and leaching of ferroan carbonate cements. By this means# a pervasive oxidative remagnetisation of a very great thickness of sediment could occur. Such a model may be extended to many other Upper Palaeozoic sediments throughout Laurentia-Baltica which are currently being recognised as having suffered severe oxidative remagnetisation in the Kiaman. This has been tested by an analysis of Carboniferous sandstones on the Solway Firth which have been found to have acquired a post- tectonic remanence. Any further studies of the Upper Palaeozoic# particularly sediments such as redbeds and carbonates# will need to follow a similar pattern of investigation in order to characterise their remanence sufficiently well to enable the apparent polar wander path for the period to have any validity. The use of the electron microscope in such studies is particularly recomended. This thesis is dedicated to the memory of Tarqui n Tea le ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My thanks must go first and foremost to my two supervisors/ Prof- J-C- Briden (Leeds University) and Prof. J-V- Watson (Imperial College). Their interest and enthusiasm for very different but closely inter-related aspects of Earth Sciences laid the foundations for a very varied and challenging research project. Janet Watson’s untimely death part way through the study was an enormous loss which will be felt very deeply by many people for a very long period of time. It was the loss not only of an outstanding and pioneering geologist but also of one of the most sincere/ friendly and helpful people in the geological community. I would like to thank Tim Astin* Dave Hatfield* Dave Ord* John Parnell and Doyle Watts* in addition to my supervisors* for invaluable advice and assistance in the field. Tim Astin is also thanked for organising a very useful and informative thematic conference on the Orcadian Basin. The support and assistance of the 'Palaeomag Crew* (Martin Bates* Dave Hatfield* Buffy McClelland Brown* Bundan Mubroto* David Robertson and Mark Smethurst) is greatly appreciated* particularly the efforts of Mark Smethurst to bring computer graphics into the 21st century and of Dave Hatfield and Buffy McClelland Brown to keep equipment functional against all the odds. On the technical side* the assistance of Mrs E. Bannerjee (ICP analysis)* Dr. E. Condliffe* Mr. R. Giddens and Mr. P. Grant (electron microscopy)* Mr. R. Boud (cartography)* Dr. R. Clark (computing)* Mr. F. Bouckley (ferrous iron determinations)* Mr. A. Grey (sample preparation)* Mr. F. Johnston (just about everything) and the technical and support staff of both Leeds University and Imperial College is gratefully acknowledged. The photography department of Leeds University made especial efforts in plate production. In addition to names already mentionedd* discussion and help from many people including Mr. M. Enfield* Prof. E.H. Francis* Dr.M. Leeder* Dr.R. Raiswell and Prof.D. Shearman has been of invaluable assistance. On a less formal note* the members of the departments of both Leeds and I.C. have a tot to answer for. I would particularly like to mention Jan Alexander* Mark Bennett* Sarah Drewery* Basem El-Haddadeh* Steve Flint* Alison Fraser* Rob Gawthorpe* Kathryn Loynes* Bob Maddock* Keith Myers* Clive Neal* Andy Sims* Ann Strudwick* Andy Thickpenny* Alastair Welbon (proof-reader and photocopier extraordinaire)* John Wheeler and Jeremy Young* in addition to many other friends (both within these departments and in my ’other life*)* from whom it would be unfair to select a small number of names. Penu11imate l y* I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to my family for their love and support* especially during the hard times. The final months of this research were marred by the sudden death in Italy of Tarquin Teale* one of the closest friends one could wish to have. This thesis is dedicated to his memory. IV SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED a95 Circle of 95% confidence about a mean direction A95 Semi-angle of the 95*i cone of confidence about a VGP AF Alternating Field APW Apparent Polar Wander ARM Anhysteretic Remanent Magnetisation B Magnetic induction Be Coe rc i ve force Bs Saturating field Cong • Cong l omerate CRM Chemical Remanent Magnetisation dp/ dm Oval of 95S confidence about a VGP Dec • Declination DRM Detrital Remanent Magnetisation DW Dykewidth /^ecLoc pyt EM Eday Marls EPMA Electron Probe Microanalysis EV Eday Volcani cs f Frequency factor GGF Great Glen Fault H Magnet i c field ICP Inductively-coupled plasma spectroscopy IRM Isothermal Remanent Magnetisation J Magneti sat ion K Conduct i vi ty k Di ffusivi ty k Estimate of Fisher's precision parameter LES Lower Eday Sandstone M Magnetic dipole moment per unit volume Ms Saturation Magnetisation Mr Unsaturated IRM Mrs Saturation IRM MCR Multi-component Remanence md multidomain MES Middle Eday Sandstone m . y . Million years N Number (of observations etc) NspsNsi. Number of specimens/sites NRM Natural Remanent Magnetisation ORS Old Red Sandstone PEF Present Earth's Field (direction) psd pseudo-single domain PTRM Partial Thermoremanent Magnetisation PWP Polar Wander Path Q Koenigsberger Ratio R Resultant (of N^^ectors) SCR Single-Component Remanence sd single-domain SEI Secondary Electron Image SEM Scanning Electron Microscope Tb Blocking Temperature Tc Curie Temperature T c o Contact Temperature T CRM Thermo-Chemical Remanent Magnetisation Th The rmal Ti Intrusion temperature TiMt Ti t anomagne t i t e TRM Thermoremanent Magnetisation UES Upper Eday Sandstone v Volume (of a magnetic grain) VGP Virtual Geomagnetic Pole VRM Viscous Remanent Magnetisation Z Atomic Numbe r Volume Susceptibility Initial Susceptibility r Relaxation time CONTENTS V| Abstract i Dedication ji Acknowledgements ijj Symbols and abbreviations jv Contents vi Figures x Tables xii PlateS xiij CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1. Preface 1 1-2. Sampling strategy and objectives 4 1.3. Structure of thesis 5 1.4. Experimental techniques 1.4.1. Palaeomagnetic techniques 5 1.4.2. Other techniques 8 1.5. Pa l aeomagnetic units 8 CHAPTER 2 GEOLOGICAL AND PALAEOMAGNETIC BACKGROUND 2.1. The Orcadian Basin 2.1.1. The Orcadian Basin in context 10 2.1.2. Old Red Sandstone of the Orcadian Basin 10 2.1.3. Bulk analyses and source areas 20 2.1.4. Origin of the basin 20 2.1.5. Structure 22 2.1.6.