1) Find a large
bed of igneous or Sedimentary rock that is consistent in age
throughout.
2) Drill out several core samples. Make sure
to note which is the current true north pole and current
magnetic
north pole.
3) Measure and document the cores
magnetization direction.
4) Obtain the declination angle by measuring
the angle between the current true north and current magnetic
north pole.
5) Obtain the inclination angle by measuring
the angle between the current magnetic north pole and the
magnetization
angle.
6) Average all the measured declination
angles to obtain an average declination for the body of rock.If
measured
correctly, the
declination angle should be equal to where ever on the current
world map the location of the body of
rock currently rests.
7) Average all the measured inclination
angles to obtain an average inclination angle for the body of
rock. Add
or subtract this angle to the measured declination angle to
obtain the angle from which the rock body was formed
The picture above demonstrates how
Paleomagnetism
is
in relation to the true north pole. Using the relationship, as
explained below, between the inclination angle and
determined from an igneous rock core sample
(Glen 84).
latitude, the paleolatitude can
be determined.
The Relationship
Between Inclination Angle and Latitude
Once the inclination of a rock core sample
has been determined, scientists are able to easily figure out
where that specific body of igneous rock cooled in regards to
the latitude of the Earth. The figure to the right illustrates
the relationship between the inclination angle and the latitude
at which the rock was formed. The paleomagnetic information only
allows scientists to determine the latitude and not the
longitude, meaning that the body of rock could have formed
anywhere longitudinally on the Earth at the determined latitude
(Glen 85). It doesn't matter where
at longitudinally the body of rock was formed, it only matters
latitude-wise where it was formed because the temperature of the
environment will be the same no matter where longitudinally it
was located. The measurements of the paleolatitude aided in the
support of Plate Tectonics, in that the plates that make up the
surface of the Earth are constantly moving around the Earth
(Glen 85).
The picture above demonstrates
the relationship between the
inclination angle and latitude
(Glen 82).