OPDYKE, NEIL D., Department of Geology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

ABSTRACT: The Magnetic Stratigraphy of the Upper Paleozoic

Studies in the Salt Range of Pakistan and China have shown that the earth's magnetic field reverses frequently in the Late Permian. However, the accurate placement of the termination of Permo-Carboniferous reversed superchron is still not correlated to a marine sequence. Short normal intervals within the PCRS are confirmed.

A recent study by Opdyke and Khramov from the Ukraine indicates that the base of the PCRS will be difficult to place in this sedimentary sequence. The reversal sequence from these sediments was thought to provide the best record for reversals of the earth's magnetic field in Namurian and Westphalian time. However, the reversal record previously obtained from the sediments is now in doubt. The best record of mid-Carboniferous reversal sequences are those from the Canadian Maritime provinces and from the Mauch Chunk formation of Pennsylvania. These studies indicate that the base of the PCRS most probably occurs within Westphalian A.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90987©1993 AAPG Annual Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25-28, 1993.