Briefly describe the manner in which the paleomagnetic time scale was derived.  Use sketches.if you wish.Magnetic Polarity Time Scale. 

Describe briefly how the fact that the earth's magnetic field reversed was shown and how the timing of the reversals was determined.  Why was the magnetic polarity time scale derived by this work carried back only to 4 million years.  Label the epochs and events on the diagram below.

 

Briefly describe the contribution Fred Vine & Drummond Matthews made to the development of the theory of seafloor spreading.

 

What is the range of spreading rates observed along the Mid-Ocean Ridge at present? (5 pts.).

 

Several magnetic anomaly profiles across the Mid-Ocean Ridge are shown in Figure 2.  Identify the anomalies resulting from the Bruhnes, Matayama, Gauss and Gilbert epochs, and the Jaramillo, Olduvai, Mammoth, Cochiti, Nunivak, and "C" events on Figure 2 and show your calculations of half spreading rates for each profile below.  A time scale is included in Figure 3.  (10 pts.).

 

Give approximate full spreading rates for the following (3 pts.):

1.   South Atlantic portion of the Mid-Ocean Ridge.

2.   East Pacific Rise in the south Pacific.

3.   Mid-Ocean Ridge in the Arctic Ocean.

 

Give approximate half spreading rates for the following (4 pts.):

Given the following information, calculate half spreading rates.  Show your calculations.  A time scale is provided at the back of this test.

1.   MOR crest to Brunhes-Matayama boundary is 70 km.

2.   MOR crest to Brunhes-Matayama boundary is 140 km.

3.   MOR crest to Gauss-Gilbert boundary is 330 km.

4.   MOR crest to Gauss-Gilbert boundary is 700 km.

5.   MOR crest to anomaly 5 is 100 km.

6.   Width of seafloor between anomaly 10 on either side of MOR is 600 km.

7.   Width of seafloor between anomaly 32 on either side of MOR is 1600 km.

8.   Width of seafloor from anomaly 32 on the west side of the MOR to anomaly 32 on the east side of the MOR is 2850 km.

9.   Width of seafloor from anomaly M-25 to anomaly M-16 is 600 km.

 

Where are slow-spreading ridges found?

Where are fast-spreading ridges found?

What spreading rate divides fast and slow ridges?