Magnetostratigraphy of the Lake Baikal sediments: A unique record of 8.4Â Ma of continuous sedimentation in the continental environment

The unique continuity of the Lake Baikal deep drilled cores - short piston cores and deep drilled cores - of 1993, 1996, and 1998 enables one to reconstruct reliably the geomagnetic polarity chrons and a number of the shorter geomagnetic events. Data from three very long cores allows a comparison to the geomagnetic polarity time scale (GPTS) and detailed records of geomagnetic events in the last 8.4 Ma. A refined age model, supported by 10Be dates, provides constraints for the short geomagnetic events. Some geomagnetic events are correlated with geomagnetic excursions already discussed in the literature; others are identified for the first time and may need future confirmation.