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Nature 298, 149 - 151 (08 July 1982); doi:10.1038/298149a0
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R e fe re nce s
Gulf of Aden axial magnetic anomaly and the Curie
Ex port citation
temperature isotherm
Ex port re fe re nce s
D. TAMSETT & R. W. GIRDLER
Se nd to a frie nd
School of Physics, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
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The main features of magnetic anomalies over ocean ridges have been
< Pre vious | Ne x t > explained1 as a corollary of seafloor spreading and geomagnetic reversals.
Oceanic crust is formed in a narrow region, becoming magnetized in the
direction of the Earth's magnetic field as its temperature falls through the Curie
point of the magnetic minerals present. The Gulf of Aden was one of the first
places where reversely magnetized sea floor was recognized2 . The seafloor
spreading direction and latitude are such that the anomaly due to normal
magnetization is negative and slightly skewed. Positive anomalies were also
observed suggesting the presence of reverse magnetization. A short wavelength
magnetic anomaly which frequently occurs superimposed on the axial magnetic
anomaly in the Gulf of Aden is now described. Various interpretations are
considered; the preferred involves a dramatic shallowing of the Curie
temperature isotherm close to the seafloor spreading centre. The interpretation
has implications for models of the generation of oceanic lithosphere and for
locating possible geothermal areas in rifted regions.

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