Geomagnetic secular variation recorded by sediments deposited during the Cretaceous normal superchron at low latitude

Paleosecular variation of the Earth’s magnetic field reflects the convective vigor of the geodynamo. To investigate the energy regime of the geodynamo during the Cretaceous normal superchron, we collected 534 samples for a paleosecular variation study from a 1400 m-long, paleontologically well-described section in northern Peru. Thermal demagnetization isolates stable magnetization directions carried by greigite. Arguments are equivocal whether this remanence is syn-diagenetic, acquired during the Cretaceous normal superchron, or a secondary overprint, acquired during a chron of solely normal polarity in the upper Cenozoic, yet pre-Bruhnes (>800 kyr). We explore the ramifications on the S value, which quantifies paleosecular variation, that arises from directional analysis, sun compass correction, bedding correction, sampling frequency, outlying directions and different recording media. The sum of these affects can readily raise the S value by more than 20%. S values from northern Peru are indistinguishable from other S values for the Cretaceous normal superchron as well as those for the last 5 Ma. Summing over all the potential uncertainties, we come to the pessimistic conclusion that the S value is an unsuitable parameter to constrain geodynamo models. Alternatively, no statistical difference in paleosecular variation exists during much of the Cretaceous normal superchron and during the last 5 Ma.

► We explore the ramifications of bedding correction, sun compass correction, sampling frequency, recording media and other variables on S value.
► Sediments can underestimate the S value by up to 20%.
► S value is an unsuitable parameter to contrain geodynamo models.
► Equatorial S values from the Cretaceous and the last 5 Ma are indistiguishable.