The Mid-Atlantic Ridge near 45° N. XIII. Magnetic properties of basalt bore-core

Abstract

Three bore-cores containing basalts have been obtained from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 45° N. The material is fresh and ideal for the study of physical properties. The drilling record and the nature of the core itself suggest that much of the basalt is from detached boulders, although one core may be in situ. In one core, variations in coercivity by a factor 2 occur within a distance of 5 cm. The coercive force spectra of anhysteretic and natural remanent magnetization are similar, but there are small differences due to secondary components which are used to predict correctly the polarity of 11 out of 12 specimens studied. This result may be of technical interest only since there is no guarantee that the material is in situ.