Want this question answered?
The evidence exists in the extrusive igneous rock, basalt, on the ocean floor near the mid-oceanic ridges. The magnetic orientation of the Earth is recorded in the igneous rock at the time of its formation. The orientation of Earth's magnetic field changes over time, and thus provides a way to relatively date rocks. These orientations can be recorded and mapped with the aid of a magnetometer. Magnetic orientation of oceanic crustal rocks on one side of the mid-oceanic ridge appear as mirror images to the magnetic orientation of oceanic crustal rocks on the other side, meaning that the seafloor is spreading in opposite directions from the rift zone over time. Modern instruments have measured the movement of crust away from the rift zone and it roughly approximates the rate of human fingernail growth.
Iron minerals that are present in magma or lava along the ridge that has not completely crystallized into rock are aligned with the Earth's polarity. When the magma or lava cools and solidifies completely, the magnetic orientation of the Earth at that time is preserved in the body of igneous rock.
parrell strips of igneous rocks on each side of the ridge show matching reversal of magnetic polity
Texture
texture
The evidence exists in the extrusive igneous rock, basalt, on the ocean floor near the mid-oceanic ridges. The magnetic orientation of the Earth is recorded in the igneous rock at the time of its formation. The orientation of Earth's magnetic field changes over time, and thus provides a way to relatively date rocks. These orientations can be recorded and mapped with the aid of a magnetometer. Magnetic orientation of oceanic crustal rocks on one side of the mid-oceanic ridge appear as mirror images to the magnetic orientation of oceanic crustal rocks on the other side, meaning that the seafloor is spreading in opposite directions from the rift zone over time. Modern instruments have measured the movement of crust away from the rift zone and it roughly approximates the rate of human fingernail growth.
Iron minerals that are present in magma or lava along the ridge that has not completely crystallized into rock are aligned with the Earth's polarity. When the magma or lava cools and solidifies completely, the magnetic orientation of the Earth at that time is preserved in the body of igneous rock.
Faults and volcanoes are often found at tectonic plates boundaries
igneous is black and smooth metamorphic is magnetic and sedimentary is used as cement
parrell strips of igneous rocks on each side of the ridge show matching reversal of magnetic polity
When new seafloor is created by upwelling magma at the mid-ocean ridges, the magnetic minerals orient themselves to the magnetic orientation of Earth at the time of their solidification in the rock matrix. Thus, the history of magnetic reversals are recorded in the rock.
The polarity of the Earth's magnetic field is recorded in igneous rocks, and reversals.
Texture
The polarity of the Earth's magnetic field is recorded in igneous rocks, and reversals.
Texture
texture
texture