A simple, alternative presentation of paleomagnetic demagnetization data

Abstract

Most research articles on paleomagnetism and rock-magnetism published since 1967 use vector component diagrams (known as Zijderveld diagrams) to describe and investigate the directional stability and intensity decay of remanent magnetization during standard laboratory demagnetization. The understanding of modern paleomagnetism, therefore, requires the clear comprehension of this graphical technique. Unfortunately the Zijderveld diagram is not readily comprehensible, for much of the geoscience community. Furthermore, it is not possible to directly read the declination and inclination angles on the diagram. A simple presen- tation of demagnetization data is proposed. This alternative diagram displays the essential information currently contained in stereographic diagrams and normalized intensity plots. It is also effective for presentation of Thellier paleointensity data.