When Does Magnetic Striping Happen?

Their magnetic signals are very similar to those of ocean-floor stripes. This all happened sometime between 1.8 million years ago, when the region's continental crust began to break apart, and 780,000 years ago, when the Earth's magnetic poles last flipped, Bridges said.

How does magnetic striping occur?

How to form magnetic striping: new oceanic crust forms continuously at the mid-ocean ridges. While it cools down, it records the magnetic field during its formation. The two parts of the oceanic plate are pulled apart, and magnetic stripes become older as they move away from the mid-ocean ridge.

Why do magnetic anomalies occur?

The source of these anomalies is primarily permanent magnetization carried by titanomagnetite minerals in basalt and gabbros. They are magnetized when ocean crust is formed at the ridge. As magma rises to the surface and cools, the rock acquires a thermoremanent magnetization in the direction of the field.