Magnetic Minerals On The Ocean Floor

Throughout earth s history.
Magnetic minerals on the ocean floor. These two things were the magnetic striping on the ocean floor and the age of seafloor rocks. 3 rocks containing iron give us a record of earth s magnetic field. Magnetic striping magnetic minerals are found in rocks. Some igneous rocks contain minerals that are magnetic.
From studies of the magnetic properties and the ages of igneous rocks on the ocean floor. They record the strength of the magnetic field in rocks on the ocean floor. These minerals provide a record of the direction of earth s magnetic field at the time when the molten matter that formed the rock. Plate tectonics explains patterns observed in data from these studies.
Magnetic striping of the sea floor after mid ocean ridges and trenches were discovered more evidence was discovered that helped to support the theory that the continents had moved around. When the earth s magnetic field reverses a new stripe with the new polarity begins. Scientists can use this data to make magnetic maps of the ocean floor. The figure below includes two images of the ocean floor.
Evidence for seafloor spreading. Magnetic reversalssome of the most important evidence of seafloor spreading comes from magnetic reversals recorded in the ocean floor. Basalt is one of these rocks. As lava cools the minerals settle parallel to the earth s magnetic field.
Such magnetic patterns led to recognition of the occurrence of sea floor spreading and they remain some of the strongest evidence for the theory of plate tectonics.