Paleomagnetism is one tool that allows us to reconstruct past plate movements as a function of time. What must be true for geologists to take advantage of paleomagnetic data when studying plate tectonics?

Question Options:

A) The rocks must be older than ~1 billion years to record a reversal in the Earth's magnetic field.

B) The rocks must have formed deep within the Earth's interior where the field from the core was strong enough to permanently magnetize them.

C) The position of the magnetic north pole must have shifted far enough to be recorded differently in different rocks.

D) The rocks must contain minerals like magnetite that can record the strength of the Earth's field at the time they cooled

Answer: The position of the magnetic north pole must have shifted far enough to be recorded differently in different rocks.

Explanation: Paleomagnetism in geology can be defined as the study of the strength and direction of the Earth's magnetic field as it has changed over geologic time. Some minerals in rocks lock-in a record of the direction and intensity of the magnetic field when they form.

Since paleomagnetism allows us to reconstruct past plate movements as a function of time, geologists must take into account the position of the magnetic north pole when studying plate tectonics. This is because this statement emphasizes the past plate movement over time.

Answer: The rocks must be older than-1 billion years to record a reversal in the Earth's magnetic field.