Natural remanent magnetization (NRM) analysis is a paleomagnetic method used to measure and interpret the magnetization spontaneously acquired by rocks, sediments, or archeological materials in the Earth’s magnetic field at or shortly after formation. The technique involves precise measurement of the vector NRM using a magnetometer, followed by progressive demagnetization (thermal, alternating field, or chemical) to isolate characteristic remanent magnetization components and remove secondary overprints. Resulting vector component data are analyzed using principal component analysis and related statistical tools to infer ancient field directions and intensities, tectonic rotations, and chronology-constraining magnetic polarity records.
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