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We report a palaeomagnetic investigation of the last full geomagnetic field reversal, the Matuyama-Brunhes (M-B) transition, as preserved in a continuous sequence of exposed lacustrine sediments in the Apennines of Central Italy. The palaeomagnetic record provides the most direct evidence for the tempo of transitional field behaviour yet obtained for the M-B transition. 40Ar/39Ar dating of tephra layers bracketing the M-B transition provides high-accuracy age constraints and indicates a mean sediment accumulation rate of about 0.2 mm yr-1 during the transition. Two relative palaeointensity (RPI) minima are present in the M-B transition. During the terminus of the upper RPI minimum, a directional change of about 180 o occurred at an extremely fast rate, estimated to be less than 2 o per year, with no intermediate virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs) documented during the transit from the southern to northern hemisphere. Thus, the entry into the Brunhes Normal Chron as represented by the palaeomagnetic directions and VGPs developed in a time interval comparable to the duration of an average human life, which is an order of magnitude more rapid than suggested by current models. The reported investigation therefore provides high-resolution integrated palaeomagnetic and radioisotopic data that document the fine details of the anatomy and tempo of the M-B transition in Central Italy that in turn are crucial for a better understanding of Earth's magnetic field, and for the development of more sophisticated models that are able to describe its global structure and behaviour.

SUMMARY We present a high-resolution palaeomagnetic and rock magnetic study of two cores, MS06 and MS06-SW (6.7 and 1.1 m long, respectively), collected at 72 m below sea level in the Augusta Bay shelf (Eastern Sicily, Ionian Sea, Italy) about 2.3 km from the coastline. Geophysical surveying carried out in the sampling area highlighted the presence of a homogeneous sedimentary sequence that most likely was deposited after the Last Glacial Maximum and was not affected by anthropogenic disturbances. The two cores penetrated a monotonous mud sedimentary sequence, interrupted at ∼3 m depth by a 3–4-cm-thick volcanic sandy layer that is correlated with the tephra fallout deposit produced by the 122 BC plinian eruption of Mt Etna. This tephra, along with radiocarbon dating of nine marine shells and with radioactive tracers for the uppermost 0.3 m (210Pb and 137Cs), provide the chronological constraints for the stratigraphic sequence that resulted younger than 4500 yr BP. Palaeomagnetic and rock magnetic data show that the sample sequence is magnetically homogeneous. A single peak of high magnetic mineral concentration is present and corresponds to the volcanic sandy layer. Palaeomagnetic data allowed the identification of a well-defined characteristic remanent magnetization that provides a high-resolution record of palaeosecular variation (PSV) at the sampling site. The reconstructed PSV curve is in good agreement with the available regional reference PSV curves and with the prediction from recent PSV modelling for Europe. The palaeomagnetic data obtained in this study on the one hand support and refine the age model for the cores, derived from other independent constraints, and on the other hand provide an original high-resolution PSV curve that can serve as a reference for the central Mediterranean over the last 4 ka.

SUMMARY The Montalbano Jonico (MJ) section, cropping out in Southern Italy, represents a potential candidate to define the Lower/Middle Pleistocene boundary and it has been proposed as a suitable Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the Ionian Stage (Middle Pleistocene). The MJ section is the only continuous benthic and planktonic δ18O on-land reference in the Mediterranean area for the Mid-Pleistocene transition, spanning an interval between about 1240 and 645 ka. Combined biostratigraphy and sapropel chronology, tephra stratigraphy and complete high-resolution benthic and planktonic foraminiferal stable oxygen isotope records already provide a firm chronostratigraphic framework for the MJ section. However, magnetostratigraphy was still required to precisely locate the Brunhes-Matuyama transition and to mark the GSSP for the Ionian stage. We carried out a palaeomagnetic study of a subsection (Ideale section) of the MJ composite section, sampling 61 oriented cores from 56 stratigraphic levels spread over a ca. 80-m-thick stratigraphic interval that correlates to the oxygen isotopic stage 19 and should therefore include the Brunhes-Matuyama reversal. The palaeomagnetic data indicate a stable and almost single-component natural remanent magnetization (NRM). A characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) was clearly identified by stepwise demagnetization of the NRM. The ChRM declination values vary around 0° and the ChRM inclination around the expected value (59°) for a geocentric axial dipole field at the sampling locality. This result indicates that the section has been remagnetized during the Brunhes Chron. A preliminary study of 27 additional not azimuthally oriented hand samples, collected at various levels from other parts of the MJ composite section, indicates that all the samples are of normal polarity and demonstrates that the remagnetization is widespread across the whole exposed stratigraphic sequence. A series of specific rock magnetic techniques were then applied to investigate the nature of the main magnetic carrier in the study sediments, and they suggest that the main magnetic mineral in the MJ section is the iron sulphide greigite (Fe3S4). Scanning electron microscope observations and elemental microanalysis reveal that greigite occurs both as individual euhedral crystals and in iron sulphides aggregates filling voids in the clay matrix. Therefore, we infer that the remagnetization of the section is due to the late-diagenetic growth of greigite under reducing conditions, most likely resulting in the almost complete dissolution of the original magnetic minerals. Iron sulphide formation in the MJ section can be linked to migration of mineralized fluids. Our inferred timing of the remagnetization associated with greigite growth represents the longest remanence acquisition delay documented in greigite-bearing clays of the Italian peninsula so far.

SUMMARY A mixed-polarity zone, representing alternations between remagnetized and non-remagnetized strata, has been documented within the lower few metres of the CRP-1 core (Ross Sea, Antarctica). Detailed rock magnetic investigation of this interval indicates that the normal polarity remagnetization is carried by magnetostatically interacting single-domain particles of a ferrimagnetic iron sulphide mineral, while the reversed-polarity magnetization of non-remagnetized strata is carried by magnetite with a broad range of grain sizes and negligible magnetostatic interactions. Scanning electron microscope observations of polished sections indicate that the ferrimagnetic iron sulphide mineral is greigite (Fe3S4). Based on microtextural relationships, it is not possible to determine the relative timing of formation for much of the greigite. However, a significant proportion of the greigite has grown on the surface of authigenic siderite (FeCO3) grains that occur as microconcretions and as cement surrounding detrital matrix grains. In such cases, microtextural relationships indicate that siderite post-dates early diagenetic pyrite and that greigite post-dates the siderite. Siderite usually forms in environments with abundant dissolved iron and carbonate, but without dissolved pore water H2S. This set of geochemical conditions occurs in methanic settings below the sulphate reduction zone (in which early diagenetic pyrite forms). We interpret the observed remagnetization of the lower part of the CRP-1 core as due to a late diagenetic pore water migration event where abundant iron on the surface of siderite grains reacted with fluids containing limited dissolved sulphide, thereby causing precipitation of greigite. The distribution of siderite (and associated greigite) in the lower part of the CRP-1 core is patchy, which accounts for the apparent alternation of polarities. This study is part of a growing catalogue of remagnetizations involving greigite, which suggests that occurrences of greigite should be treated with caution in palaeomagnetic and environmental magnetic studies.

SUMMARY The onset of continent-wide glaciation in Antarctica is still poorly understood, despite being one of the most important palaeoclimatic events in the Cenozoic. The Eocene/ Oligocene boundary interval has recently been recognized as a critical time for Antarctic climatic evolution, and it may mark the preglacial‐glacial transition. Magnetic susceptibility, intensity of natural and artificial remanences, hysteresis parameters and magnetic anisotropy of the lower half (late Eocene/early Oligocene) of the CIROS-1 core (from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica) reveal alternating intervals of high and low magnetic mineral concentrations that do not correspond to lithostratigraphic units in the core. Pseudo-single-domain magnetite is the main magnetic mineral throughout the sequence, and sharp changes in magnetite concentration match changes in clay mineralogy beneath and at the Eocene/Oligocene boundary. The detrital magnetite originated from weathering of the Ferrar Group (which comprises basic extrusive and intrusive igneous rocks). Weathering processes and input of magnetite to the Victoria Land Basin were intense during periods when the Antarctic climate was warmer than today, but during intervals when the climate was relatively cool, chemical weathering of the Ferrar Group was suppressed and input of detrital magnetite to the Victoria Land Basin decreased. Our results also indicate that a cold and dry climate was not established in Antarctica until the Eocene/Oligocene boundary, with major ice sheet growth occurring at the early/late Oligocene boundary. Some earlier cold intervals are identified, which indicate that climate had begun to deteriorate by the middle/late Eocene boundary.

SUMMARY The magnetic mineralogy of a Pleistocene sedimentary sequence drilled near Montalto di Castro (Latium, Italy) shows an extreme variability in a 40 m thick stratigraphic interval. Sedimentary fades in this interval also show rapid and strtng changes in the granulometry and colours of the deposits, reflecting deposition in a coastal environment under a variety of energy and redox conditions. Rock magnetism analysed of the finegrained sediments from this stratigraphic interval indicate the presence, in variable proportions, of several magnetic minerals. A new semi-quantitative best-fit method has been specifically developed for the estimation of the relative percentage contribution of the various magnetic minerals to the isothermal remanent magnetization. The variability in the magnetic mineralogy throughout the whole sequence produces remarkable changes in the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility of the deposits. The interval with the major sedimentological and magnetic mineralogy changes is characterized by a fairly isotropic magnetic fabric, unexpected for sediments. This anomalous magnetic fabric is probably due to the balance between the inverse magnetic fabric produced by antiferromagnetic goethite and the normal magnetic fabric due to the paramagnetic matrix and other magnetic minerals.

SUMMARY A revision of the magnetostratigraphy in the Valle Ricca (Monterotondo, Rome) PlioPleistocene section was carried out. This section, consisting mainly of blue-grey marly clays, was previously investigated for palaeomagnetic effects by Arias et al. ( 1980, 1990), who detected a normal polarity interval, close to a volcanic ash layer, which was correlated to the Reunion subchron. This interpretation conflicts, however, with new biostratigraphic data and palaeomagnetic observations. In order to investigate the possible origin of these discrepancies, we performed a detailed sampling for palaeomagnetic and rock-magnetic analyses in the controversial interval around the volcanic ash layer. The present results show strong variations in the rock-magnetic parameters and suggest significant changes in the magnetic mineralogy. Two levels with a high-intensity, low-temperature, normal component of magnetization were distinguished. At these two levels, the rock-magnetic parameters are typical of greigite, and a widespread occurrence of framboids of micron-sized iron sulphide grains was found by mineralogical analyses. A high-temperature reversed component of magnetization, carried by magnetite, was isolated for the whole interval investigated. We demonstrate that the previously recognized normal polarity interval is the effect of changes in the magnetic mineralogy and it does not represent a true reversal of the Earth's magnetic field. The origin of the low-temperature normal component of magnetization is discussed in light of the present knowledge about greigite formation and remanence acquisition.