Abstract An extension of the saturation remanence normalization method to over 50 samples implies that a lunar surface field, comparable in intensity to the Earth's magnetic field, existed from about 3.65 to 3.85 AE. Absolute paleointensity estimates published to date, and surface field strengths, as measured by the Apollo subsatellites, are in general agreement with this observation. The data presented here differ from previous descriptions of the variation of the lunar field with time in that A) the oldes samples (>3.85 AE) are found to be amongst the most weakly magnetized; B) an order of magnitude drop in paleointensity is suggested between the time of extrusion of the Apollo 11 low and high potassium basalts. The confined time envelope of the strongly magnetized lunar samples, and the absence of shocked samples in the set, argues against an external, solar source for the lunar paleofield, or for a strong magnetic field arising from some transient phenomena (i.e. shock). A lunar dynamo, perhaps triggered by the close approach of the Moon to the Earth seems the best explanation for the limited period of intense lunar magnetic activity.


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    Title :

    A review of lunar paleointensity data


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1983-01-01


    Size :

    4 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English