Motion of Pacific basin hotspots: Paleomagnetic investigation of the Late Cretaceous Southern Volcanics (Chatham Islands)

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A fundamental tenet of plate tectonics is the fixed hotspot reference frame, but paleomagnetic data from the Pacific Plate increasingly challenge the veracity of this assumption. This study will conduct a modern paleomagnetic analysis of rocks from the southernmost part of the Pacific Plate and compare the results with those of ODP Leg 197, which drilled parts of the Hawaii-Emperor chain. Late Cretaceous rocks will be sampled on the Chatham and Pitt Islands and analyzed for magnetic signatures and radiometric ages. The resulting paleomagnetic pole will further constrain plate circuits, provide additional information for interpretation of Late Cretaceous paleoclimate, and possibly assist with planning for potential drilling of the Louisville hotspot track in the future. Broader impacts include educational efforts involving graduate, undergraduate, and K-12 students. In addition, this research could contribute to substantial revision in our understanding of hotspot fixity.