| Description | This topic occupied much of Blackett's interest in rock magnetism; he delivered a paper on the subject at the International Conference at Kyoto, Japan, in 1961 and from about 1964 concentrated almost entirely upon it, with the help of his reearch assistants, notably Miss JL Langbein. The working papers are very extensive both in time and in detail of the recordings, measurements, calculations and drafts.
The unpublished paper 'Some observations of the petrology of normal and reverse lavas', subtitled 'Progress Report on Work carried out since 1965' and dated July 1967, provides a brief account of the work and a guide to the detailed worksheets. It has therefore been taken out of chronological sequence and placed at the head of this section as item C.125, together with 'Table 1. Details of sites and samples' (included as a loose page) which lists the sites and the names of the collectors as samples. The working papers are presented in the order of the sites (15 in all) and many of the folders include correspondence with the collectors.
Although the 1967 paper refers to 'work carried out there since 1965', some of the work began earlier (several folders and letters are dated 1963) and Blackett maintained his interest and research on the problem after 1967. Items C.162-C.188 deal with the continuation of the analysis, and also with additional samples analysed and measured in the period 1965-1967 but not included in the 15 sites chosen for the 1967 paper.
Much of the work is in Blackett's hand and indicates his determination to give whatever time he could do to scientific research despite his many political activities at this period (see Section E). The titles and descriptions in inverted commas are those he gave to folders, bundles of notes or data. Work in other hands has been identified wherever possible.
The work is presented as follows:
C.125-C.132 Texts, drafts and corrections of July 1967 paper
C.133-C.161 Working papers on field reversal 1962-1967, preceding July 1967 paper
C.162-C.165 Working papers on field reversal not used in July 1967 paper
C.166-C.169 Working papers on field reversal intended as extension of wrok for July 1967 paper
C.170-C.188 Reworking of data, oxidation controversy and last research, 1967-1973 |