Application of the Bingham distribution function in paleomagnetic studies

Fisherian statistical parameters are frequently published for paleomagnetic data that form elongate directional distributions, despite the fact that they are strictly applicable to circularly symmetric distributions. Thus the Bingham statistical parameters provide better approximation to elongate paleomagnetic data sets. Because the Bingham parameters also pertain to directions dispersed along a great circle, they supply a statistical basis for describing the distribution of axes perpendicular to great circles intersecting at a common point, a problem that arises in the analysis of multicomponent magnetization, in the application of the Hargraves' correction technique, and in intersecting lunes. Application of the Bingham density function to paleomagnetic poles from Tertiary lava flows in Iceland reveals temporal fluctuations in the eccentricity of the data. Use of the Bingham density function in the analysis of intersecting great circles is illustrated by application to data from a lightning strike remagnetized basalt in northern Arizona.