| The study of magnetism is one of the oldest of the geophysical sciences. It is unique
among the sciences in that ancient records of the geomagnetic field are preserved
in rocks and changes in the field can be traced through time. To assist the scientist
studying the Earth?s ancient magnetization, the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC)
has available the following data of paleopole positions and paleomagnetic directions.
The Global PaleoMagnetic Directions and Poles Data Base (GPMDB) Version 3.1 revised
May 1995. This data base, established by M. McElhinny and J. Lock under the authority
of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA), contains all
published data up to 1995 and has references linked to data results. The data base
was developed under MicroSoft Access 2.0 and includes following information: AUTHORS,
Table of authors, linked to REFERENCE and ROCKUNIT The REFERENCE, Table of books,
journals etc. from which data were extracted ROCKUNIT, position, geology, age, and
structure information PMAGRESULT, results, reversal test, lab test, tilt corrections
and comments ALTRESULT, pole position and statistics where derived from VGP FIELDTESTS,
type of field tests done and results with commentary Several other related data bases
are available including Paleointensity (PALIN), Polarity Transitions (TRANS), and
Secular Variation (SECVR). |