The Rocks On The Ocean Floor Are Magnetic In Stripes

The minerals contained in the rocks are oriented opposite to the magnetic field.

The rocks on the ocean floor are magnetic in stripes. Magnetic striping magnetic minerals are found in rocks. This evidence made scientists take a second look at wegener s hypothesis of continental drift. When the earth s magnetic field reverses a new stripe with the new polarity begins. When scientists studied the magnetic properties of the seafloor they discovered normal and reversed magnetic stripes with different widths.

Magnetic stripes and isotopic clocks oceanographic exploration in the 1950s led to a much better understanding of the ocean floor. Different types of evidence supported hess s theory of sea floor spreading. These two things were the magnetic striping on the ocean floor and the age of seafloor rocks. These magnetic patterns are parallel to the mid ocean ridges and symmetrical on both sides.

Magnetic direction of rock changes as earth s magnetic poles drift. When magma flows out of a mid ocean ridge small magnetic minerals in the magma align themselves to point in the direction of the earth s current magnetic north. Magma acquires the magnetic direction present on earth when it hardens into rock 3. Such magnetic patterns led to recognition of the occurrence of sea floor spreading and they remain some of the strongest evidence for the theory of plate tectonics.

Eruptions of molten material magnetic stripes in the rock of the ocean floor and the ages of the rocks themselves. The rock of the ocean floor contains iron. As rocks crystallize from lava at the ridges they literally record the magnetic field of the earth at the time. The patterns of the magnetic field will then be compared to the rocks to determine its approximate ages.

Plate tectonics and reversals of the earth s magnetic field are responsible for the magnetic stripes found on the ocean floor. The investigation of the mid ocean ridge using the magnetic stripes resulted in the three discoveries. And unlike magnetic stripes on the ocean floor tendaho s formed through diking. These patterns were unlike any seen for continental rocks.

Magnetic striping of the sea floor after mid ocean ridges and trenches were discovered more evidence was discovered that helped to support the theory that the continents had moved around. The rock began as molten material that cooled and hardened. Identify the factors that cause magnetic stripes to form along the ocean floor. Plates move as new rock forms which causes magnetic direction to skew away.

The figure below includes two images of the ocean floor. Select the two correct answers.