Paleosecular variation and paleointensity records for the last millennium from southern South America (Laguna Potrok Aike, Santa Cruz, Argentina)

High-resolution paleo- and rock magnetic studies were performed on a group of four sediment cores from Laguna Potrok Aike (Santa Cruz, Argentina) representing the time period AD 1300–2000. The rock magnetic analyses show that the main magnetic mineral is (titano)magnetite with a concentration between 0.01 and 0.08%, and a grain size of 4–15 μm. This study is helpful in order to complete the paleosecular variation (PSV) and paleointensity type curves for South America which do not have a detailed record for the last millennium. The comparison with the study carried out for Lake El Trébol shows a very good agreement, supporting that PSV records of south-western Argentina can be developed into a stratigraphic correlation tool on a regional scale.