Gauss-Matuyama reversal
Encyclopedia
The Gauss-Matuyama Reversal was a geologic event approximately 2.588 million years ago when the Earth's
magnetic field
underwent reversal
.
This event, which separates the Piacenzian
from the Gelasian
and marks the start of the Quaternary
, is useful in dating sediments.
pentaradiatus and D. surculus, among others.
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
magnetic field
Magnetic field
A magnetic field is a mathematical description of the magnetic influence of electric currents and magnetic materials. The magnetic field at any given point is specified by both a direction and a magnitude ; as such it is a vector field.Technically, a magnetic field is a pseudo vector;...
underwent reversal
Geomagnetic reversal
A geomagnetic reversal is a change in the Earth's magnetic field such that the positions of magnetic north and magnetic south are interchanged. The Earth's field has alternated between periods of normal polarity, in which the direction of the field was the same as the present direction, and reverse...
.
This event, which separates the Piacenzian
Piacenzian
The Piacenzian is in the international geologic timescale the upper stage or latest age of the Pliocene. It spans the time between 3.6 ± 0.005 Ma and 2.588 ± 0.005 Ma...
from the Gelasian
Gelasian
The Gelasian is an age in the international geologic timescale or a stage in chronostratigraphy, being the earliest or lowest subdivision of the Quaternary period/system and Pleistocene epoch/series. It spans the time between 2.588 ± 0.005 Ma and 1.806 ± 0.005 Ma...
and marks the start of the Quaternary
Quaternary
The Quaternary Period is the most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the ICS. It follows the Neogene Period, spanning 2.588 ± 0.005 million years ago to the present...
, is useful in dating sediments.
Biological effects
The event is marked by the extinction of calcareous nannofossils DiscoasterDiscoaster
Discoaster is a genus of fossil haptophytes.- Species :Some species in this genus include:*D. asymmetricus Gartner*D. bellus Bukry and Percival*D. berggrenii Bukry*D. bollii Martini and Bramlette...
pentaradiatus and D. surculus, among others.