Abstract
Results from a paleomagnetic, rock-magnetic and Thellier paleointensity study on 170 cores belonging to 22 lava flows from an approximately 3.6 My old Pliocene lava flow succession from southern Georgia are presented. Rock-magnetic experiments showed that remanence is mainly carried by Ti-poor titanomagnetite and that the fraction of grains with multidomain magnetic structure is not important. Characteristic remanent magnetization could be determined successfully on all samples. Direct correlation with previously studied sequences and field observations allowed establishing a new magnetic stratigraphy. The lower part of the section is characterized by intermediate magnetic polarity followed by thick reversely magnetized lavas. The upper sequence yielded normal magnetic polarity. The mean paleointensity of the intermediate field is drastically reduced with respect to the post-transitional field strength. Considering all available radiometric ages and our new paleomagnetic data the Gilbert- Gauss (R-N) reversal is probably recorded at the upper part of sequence. The lower intermediate polarity flows possibly represent a kind of precursor to this reversal.