Paleomagnetic and Mineral Magnetic Studies of Lake Sediments, Venezuelan Andes

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The PI plans to investigate the paleomagnetic and mineral magnetic character of sediments from a series of lakes in the Venezuelan Andes. This research is being undertaken to further define paleoclimatic variation in the region. The lakes, ranging in altitude from 1000 to 3,500 m, have been sampled and studied by colleagues from U. Mass who have produced a geochemical based paleoclimatic record for the past 18,000 years. Secular variation of the lake sediments will be studied using inclination and relative declination measurements of the magnetic field. The carriers of the magnetic signature, as well as their grain size will be investigated in detail on subsamples from preexisting lake cores. The magnetic data, in conjunction with detailed geochemical and palynological data on the same cores, will provide a correlation of techniques in paleoclimatology studies, provide for corroboration of previous interpretations, and present new information on the paleoclimitalogy and paleoenvironment of the northern Andes.