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New oceanic crust is being created at the mid-ocean rift zones, a global divergent plate boundary system where uprising magma fills in the spaces being created by the pulling apart of plates. Part of the newly forming crust follows the direction of one plate, and part of the newly forming crust follows the direction of the other plate; therefore, the age of the rock created from the magma has a mirror image on either side of the rift.

As new oceanic crust is continuously being formed at the mid-ocean ridges by upwelling molten rock, the direction of Earth's magnetic field is recorded in the rock by the orientation of magnetic minerals, which align themselves in the direction of the magnetic field before the rock completely crystallizes.

Earth's magnetic field is known to change its orientation with frequency on a geologic time scale, thus a pattern of stripes of magnetic orientation is formed which can be detected with a magnetometer.

The discovery of magnetic stripes on the seafloor have allowed researchers to provide additional proof that new crust is being created, and that magnetic reversals have occurred and will occur in the future.

They tell us that over the course of thousands of years, Earth's polarity will reverse itself. The stripes are the magnetic "footprint" of Earth's shifting magnetic field.

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Related Questions

What is sea floor spreading and what evidence do we have to prove it is happening?

Magnetic minerals on the ocean floor.


Bands of magnetic material in the sea floor that have opposite poles or exhibit magnetic reversal can provide evidence for sea floor spreading true or false?

True. Bands of magnetic material in the sea floor that have opposite poles or exhibit magnetic reversal provide evidence for sea floor spreading. This is because as new oceanic crust forms at mid-ocean ridges, Earth's magnetic field periodically reverses, creating magnetic stripes on the ocean floor that align with the direction of the magnetic field at that time.


Used as evidence for sea-floor spreading?

Magnetic striping on the ocean floor is used as evidence for seafloor spreading. As new oceanic crust forms at mid-ocean ridges, Earth's magnetic field is recorded in the rocks in alternating patterns of normal and reversed polarity. This provides support for the idea that new crust is continuously being created at mid-ocean ridges and spreading away in opposite directions.


What is a spreading center on the ocean floor?

sea floor-spreading..;)


What did scientist discovere when they analyzed the magnetic bands on the ocean floor?

Scientists found Alternating bands of magnetism.


What is shown by magnetic minerals spreading from a mid ocean ridge?

That magnetic minerals spreading from a mid-ocean ridge


What is shown by magnetic minerals spreading from a mid-ocean ridge?

That magnetic minerals spreading from a mid-ocean ridge


What is shown by magnetic minerals spreading from mid ocean ridge?

That magnetic minerals spreading from a mid-ocean ridge


Strips of alternating magnetic polarities found in rocks in the ocean basin?

provide evidence for sea-floor spreading


Why did arthur Holmes think the sea floor was spreading?

Spreading Of ocean floor


What three types of evidence provided support for the theory of sea-floor spreading?

The discovery of mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is formed, supported the theory of sea-floor spreading. The mapping of magnetic stripes on the ocean floor, showing alternating patterns of magnetic polarity, provided further evidence for sea-floor spreading. The age of the oceanic crust getting progressively younger away from the mid-ocean ridges supported the concept of sea-floor spreading.


How do strip of magnetized rock on the ocean floor provide evidence of sea-floor spreading?

Strips of ocean-floor basalt record the polarity of earth's magnetic field at the time the rock formed. These strips form a pattern that is the same on both sides of the mid-ocean ridge. the pattern shows that ocean floor forms along mid-ocean ridges and then moves away from the ridge.