1989/05/01 by Sheng Chang, Joseph L. Kirschvink · 2 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies #Geology and Paleoclimatology Research #Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils #Biomineralization #Magnetite #Geology #Greigite #Magnetization #Geochemistry #Mineralogy #Paleontology #Magnetic field
paper · doi:10.1146/annurev.ea.17.050189.001125
openalex publication_date 1989/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/26
Magnetite (Fe3O4) is one of the most stable carriers of natural remanent magnetization (NRM) in sedimentary rocks, and paleomagnetic studies of magnetite-bearing sediments, such as deep-sea cores and pelagic limestones, have provided a detailed calibration between the biostratigraphic \nand magnetic polarity time scales. Despite this important role, there is as yet a very poor understanding of how ultrafine-grained (< 0.1 µm) magnetite is formed, transported, and preserved in marine environments. \nA major conceptual advance in our understanding of these \nprocesses is the recent discovery that biogenic magnetite, formed by magnetotactic bacteria and/or other magnetite-precipitating organisms, is responsible for much of the stable magnetic remanence in many marine \nsediments and sedimentary rocks. Since these magnetite particles are of biogenic origin, they are termed properly magnetofossils (Kirschvink & Chang 1984).