Cambrian Palaeointensity Measurements from Nova Scotia and Brazil

Palaeointensity and palaeomagnetic measurement data from Cambrian igneous units dated to approximately 505 and 525 million years ago. The dataset includes specimen-level stepwise laboratory records from the Bourinot volcanic sequence in Nova Scotia and the Itabaiana dyke swarm in Brazil. It was contributed by the British Geological Survey and last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Reconstructing geomagnetic field behaviour during the Cambrian based on palaeointensity measurements.
• Analyzing palaeomagnetic directional data (declination and inclination) from geographically distinct regions.
• Studying rock magnetic properties of Cambrian igneous units from Avalonia and Gondwana.
• Reproducing experimental workflows for palaeointensity analysis based on documented protocols and metadata.

Strengths

• Data is formatted to be compatible with established palaeomagnetic data standards.
• Includes geographically and tectonically independent samples from two distinct palaeocontinental blocks.
• Supports reconstruction of full experimental workflows with detailed stepwise measurement records.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.

Provenance

Source

British Geological Survey (BGS)

Collection Method

Laboratory measurements from palaeomagnetic and palaeointensity experiments (e.g., IZZI-type Thellier protocols).

Time Range

Samples dated to ~505 Ma and ~525 Ma (early–middle Cambrian).

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-09 08:33:48.082886; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia (Avalonia) and northeastern Brazil (Gondwana).