Matuyama/Brunhes (M/B) Transition Recorded in Chinese Loess

Here we present a detailed record of the Matuyama/Brunhes (M/B) polarity transition recorded in a loess section at Xifeng (36°N, 108°E), in the central part of the Chinese loess plateau. The transition zone, which occurs in loess unit L8, has a thickness of 3.8 m and was sampled in full. At this point in the section the loess accumulation rate has been estimated at 10 cm/ka, and with the size of sub-sample used provides a potential time resolution of 240 years. Magnetite has been identified as the main magnetic mineral with a small contribution from maghaemite or cation deficient magnetite. The remanence of all samples was investigated using thermal demagnetisation from room temperature up to 650°C. The results indicate a duration of 32,000 years for the decay and recovery of the main dipole intensity, and 20,000 years for the period of major directional change. During the transition the field intensity falls to an average of 30% of its value before and after the transition, although there are strong variations about this weak value which accompany a sequence of 4 reversed/normal/reversed fluctuations of the local field vector. These fluctuations immediately preceed the final reversed-normal transition, after which the field intensity recovers to its pre-transition value. Calculated VGP paths of most stages are continuous and confined to preferred longitude bands which include America, the Atlantic Ocean or Africa. Field behaviour during the transition period suggests that non-dipolar terms are dominant while the dipole field is weak, with the dipole decay and recovery associated with the increased influence of low order zonal terms of the geomagnetic field.