The Blake Geomagnetic Excursion Recorded in the Mikulino Interglacial Sediments of the Neva Lowland

We present the first results of a detailed rock magnetic and paleomagnetic research of the Mga marine interglacial sediments of the Mikulino (Eemian) Interglacial (the Upper Pleistocene) in the Etalon section (former Sverdlov Factory, Leningrad Region). The Blake geomagnetic excursion was determined in the upper part of the Mga formation according to a shallow inclination of the characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) component. Age of the Blake excursion was obtained as 117 ± 7 ka applying optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. The results obtained are in good agreement with other Blake Event records. The ChRM in the Mga sediments is related to syngenetically formed biogenic greigite produced by magnetotactic bacteria.