Geomagnetic excursions recorded in Chinese loess in the last 70,000 years

Abstract

Detailed paleomagnetic investigations conducted on the Malan loess (L1) at a well-dated section (Weinan) in the Chinese Loess Plateau revealed two distinct anomalous directional intervals (ADI) accompanied by lower relative paleointensity. Rock magnetic properties and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) of samples taken from sedimentary horizons carrying the anomalous directions are similar to those taken from outside the anomalous directional intervals. Thus, the anomalous directions are interpreted as geomagnetic excursions. Based on 14C and TL data, the excursions occurred at 27.1-26.0 and 46.8-37.4 kyr B.P; the ages are consistent with the ages assigned to the Mono Lake excursion (MLE) and Laschamp excursion (LE), respectively. The result indicates that the MLE and LE were independent geomagnetic excursions. The morphology of LE at this section suggests that the LE might be an aborted geomagnetic reversal.