PALAEOMAGNETISM OF GEORGIAN PLIO-QUATERNARY VOLCANIC PROVINCES (SOUTHERN CAUCASUS): A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

A preliminary palaeomagnetic and rock magnetic study was carried out on 248 Plio-Quaternary lava flows and three interbedded lacustrine sedimentary layers from Georgia (Caucasus). Most samples are characterised by a single palaeomagnetic component, carried by magnetite, as confirmed by susceptibility–temperature curves. Normal, reversed and in a few cases intermediate polarities were recognised. A palaeomagnetic mean direction of D = 6.0°, I = 57.8°, k = 30, α95 = 3.8° was obtained. Considering the three sampled volcanic provinces separately, differences with the expected palaeodeclination are non-significative (Kazbeki and Khzami) or small (Djavakheti). A mean palaeointensity value of 41.5 ± 11.3 μT, corresponding to a mean VDM of 7.8 ± 3.7·1022 A·m2 is obtained.