Paleomagnetism of Cenozoic Sediments in Holes 762B and 763A, Central Exmouth Plateau, Northwest Australia

The magnetostratigraphy of Neogene sediments from Holes 762B and 763A are presented in this paper.Hole 762B contains 17 reversals.All reversals above the base of the Gilbert are correlated with the magnetic polarity time scale (Haq et al., 1988).Hole 763A yields a record of about 20 reversals that can be correlated to the magnetic polarity time scale, documenting all reversals to the base of Chron 4A.Based on the correlation, the sediment accumulation vs. time for Holes 762B and 763A are determined.The age-depth curves obtained show a similar pattern of sedimentation rate since 6.8 Ma.The study also indicates a correlation between the fluctuations in the magnetic parameters (natural remanent magnetization intensity and susceptibility), the lithologic changes, and changes in iron content at both holes.This correlation suggests that the natural remanent magnetization intensity and susceptibility changes observed in Holes 762B and 763A are controlled by changes in depositional processes probably associated with climatic variations.