Abstract
Criteria for reliability of the lunar NRM are established and the test of the case for an early dynamo described. The history of the intensity of ancient lunar fields from the samples is the key observation we need and unfortunately even more difficult than determining paleomagnetic direction reliably, but progress has been made. The results from the samples are tested against the record from the lunar crustal magnetic anomalies.
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Notes
- 1.
These criteria were set up with Ben Weiss and are discussed in a review paper Impact related shock remanent magnetization and lunar paleomagnetism. In Preparation.
- 2.
Shea et al. (2012). This paper presents the evidence for the continued operation of the lunar dynamo until 3.7Â Ga.
- 3.
Modified from Cisowski, S. M., and Fuller, M., 1986, Lunar paleointensities via the IRMs normalization method and the early magnetic history of the moon, pp 411–424, In Hartmann, W. K., Phillips, R. J., and Taylor G. J, Eds. 1986. Origin of the Moon and Cisowski, S. M., Collinson, D. W., Runcorn, S. K., Stephenson, A., and Fuller, M., 1983, A review of lunar paleointensity data and implications for the origin of lunar magnetism, Proc. 13th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, J. Geophys. Res., 88, S, A691- A704.
- 4.
I have always liked to refer to this method as the Koenigsberger-Thellier-Thellier method of paleointensity determination because Koenigsberger appeared to have recognized the essence of the method. Indeed Nagata told me that Koenigsberger had sent him laboratory notes covering this work as he feared that because he was Jewish he would not survive World War II. The method was used on lunar sample 62235 by Sugiura and Strangway (1983), Collinson et al. (1973), Lawrence et al. (2008).
- 5.
Garrick-Bethell et al. (2009). The paper gives details of the magnetism and the thermal history of this very important sample.
- 6.
Tikoo et al. (2012). This abstract presents the evidence for the decline of dynamo principally from work on sample 12022.
- 7.
Courtesy NASA.
- 8.
Halekas et al. (2003). This paper gives a list of more than 30 lunar impact basins and the nature of their magnetic anomalies, in terms of the presence or absence of crater lows and central magnetic anomalies.
- 9.
Hood (2011). In this paper Hood provides exquisitely detailed magnetic anomaly maps for four major Nectarian aged basins.
- 10.
Wieczorek et al. (2012). This paper develops a model for the magnetic anomalies of South Pole Aitken depending upon material from the impacter to account for their strength.
- 11.
Purucker et al. (2012). This paper follows earlier work linking dykes Swarms to the lava poles in South Pole-Aitken and interpreting the magnetic anomalies by massive feeder dykes.
- 12.
Private communication Mark Wieczoreck. Many thanks.
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Fuller, M. (2014). Lunar Paleomagnetism and the Case for an Early Lunar Dynamo. In: Our Beautiful Moon and its Mysterious Magnetism. SpringerBriefs in Earth Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-00278-1_9
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