Magnetite Ocean Floor

More important because the presence of magnetite gives the basalt measurable magnetic properties these newly discovered magnetic variations provided another means to study the deep ocean floor the magnetite uralite and other minerals can be exposed by etching away the enclosing calcite with hydrochloric acid.

Magnetite ocean floor.

This finding though unexpected was not entirely surprising because it was known that basalt the iron rich volcanic rock making up the ocean floor contains a strongly magnetic mineral magnetite and can locally distort compass readings. As magma cools it locks in a recording of the earth s magnetic orientation or polarity at the time of fooling. Magnetic stripes and isotopic clocks oceanographic exploration in the 1950s led to a much better understanding of the ocean floor. These grains of magnetite can align themselves with orientation of the earth s magnetic field.

These two things were the magnetic striping on the ocean floor and the age of seafloor rocks. Among the new findings was the discovery of zebra stripe like magnetic patterns for the rocks of the ocean floor. 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. This distortion was recognized by icelandic mariners as early as the late 18th century.