Certain rock types can be used to determine the locations of past magnetic poles because ____.
A) the Earth's magnetic poles have reversed many times during its history
B) the magnetic poles and geographic poles differ slightly
C) iron-bearing minerals align themselves in the direction of the current magnetic field when the rock cools below the Curie point
D) lava flows in Europe all showed that the continent was once located in the southern hemisphere
E) the north magnetic poles of each continent are identical for each geological period

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Iron-bearing minerals in rocks align themselves with the current magnetic field when the rock cools below the Curie point. As the rock solidifies and the magnetic minerals lock in place, they become a record of the magnetic field at that point in time. By analyzing the orientation of the magnetic minerals in rocks of different ages and locations, scientists can determine the position of the magnetic poles at different points in Earth's history.

Certain Rock Types Can Be Used to Determine the Locations