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Abstract Speleothems are mineral deposits capable of recording detrital and/or chemical remanent magnetization at annual timescales. They can offer high‐resolution paleomagnetic records of short‐term variations in Earth's magnetic field, crucial for understanding the evolution of the dynamo. Owing to limitations on the magnetic moment sensitivity of commercial cryogenic rock magnetometers (∼10−11 Am2), paleomagnetic studies of speleothems have been limited to samples with volumes of several hundreds of mm3, averaging tens to hundreds of years of magnetic variation. Nonetheless, smaller samples (∼1–10 mm3) can be measured using superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscopy, with a sensitivity better than ∼10−15 Am2. To determine the application of SQUID microscopy for obtaining robust high‐resolution records from small‐volume speleothem samples, we analyzed three different stalagmites collected from Lapa dos Morcegos Cave (Portugal), Pau d'Alho Cave (Brazil), and Crevice Cave (United States). These stalagmites are representative of a range of magnetic properties and have been previously studied with conventional rock magnetometers. We show that by using SQUID microscopy we can achieve a five‐fold improvement in temporal resolution for samples with higher abundances of magnetic carriers (e.g., Pau d'Alho Cave and Lapa dos Morcegos Cave). In contrast, speleothems with low abundances of magnetic carriers (e.g., Crevice Cave) do not benefit from higher resolution analysis and are best analyzed using conventional rock magnetometers. Overall, by targeting speleothem samples with high concentrations of magnetic carriers we can increase the temporal resolution of magnetic records, setting the stage for resolving geomagnetic variations at short time scales.more » « less
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Abstract The late Ediacaran to early Cambrian witnessed significant Earth system changes, including animal life diversification and an enigmatic paleomagnetic record. This study focuses on the Nama Group, a key geological unit for understanding the Ediacaran‐Cambrian transition. Previous paleomagnetic studies in the Nama Group identified complex remagnetization patterns but lacked a detailed examination of remanence carriers. To address this, we conducted a series of rock magnetic experiments on unweathered borehole core samples to better constrain the remagnetization mechanisms. Thermal demagnetization identified two magnetic components.C1, a recent viscous remanent magnetization, used for borehole core orientation, andC2, a stable remagnetization component carried by single‐domain (SD) pyrrhotite and magnetite. Magnetic mineralogy and paleomagnetic data suggest that the remanence acquisition mechanism ofC2is best explained by thermoviscous remanent magnetization (TVRM) and thermal remanent magnetization (TRM), rather than chemical remanent magnetization (CRM). The presence of low unblocking temperatures, coupled with thermochronological evidence of prolonged heating during tectonic collisions and subsequent cooling, supports this interpretation. The remagnetization event is linked to the final consolidation of West Gondwanaland during the late stages of megacontinent assembly (∼490–480 Ma), coinciding with regional uplift and a stable geomagnetic field during the Moyero reverse superchron. These findings challenge the CRM hypothesis, as the quasi‐synchronous remagnetization across cratonic blocks and the predominance of single reverse polarity are better explained by thermal processes. This study highlights the critical role of thermoviscous relaxation in large‐scale remagnetization and provides new insights into the tectonic evolution of West Gondwanaland.more » « lessFree, publicly-accessible full text available March 1, 2026
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