Paleomagnetism of carboniferous formations of the Russian platform: Reinvestigation of old collections

The collections of Carboniferous rocks from sections of the Russian Platform (Gzhelian, Moscovian, Bashkirian, and Visean stages) are studied. The new mean paleomagnetic poles are obtained from the Gzhelian, Moscovian, and Visean layers of the Carboniferous of the Russian Platform. In the redbed Gzhelian and Moscovian rocks, the natural remanent magnetization (NRM) components with the inclination shallowing are revealed, which is due to the presence of the large hematite particles or particle aggregates associated with the interaction between the magnetic and clay particles. Based on the obtained determinations and the results contained in the World paleomagnetic database, the trajectory of the apparent polar wander path (APWP) for the East European Platform is constructed in the interval from the Devonian to Early Permian. The Carboniferous kinematics of the East European Platform is estimated.     

Paleomagnetism of paleozoic sediments from the Kozhim River section: On the problem of palinspastic reconstructions of the Subpolar Urals and Pai-Khoi

The collections of the Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, and Early Permian rocks from the Kozhim River section in the Subpolar Urals are studied. It is established that the pre-Permian Paleozoic deposits from the Kozhim River were remagnetized during the Kiama hyperchron (C₂-P₂) probably due to magnetoviscous processes that were blocked as these sediments were leaving the zone of increased temperature during the collision between the East European Platform and the Urals. The thrusts that took place at the last stage of this collision rendered the paleomagnetic directions of the studied structures different from those extrapolated from the East European Platform. The estimates of local rotations and displacements are obtained and applied in the combined analysis with the paleomagnetic determinations for the Pai-Khoi Ridge and Subpolar Urals. The amplitudes of the thrusts average 260 km and 180 km for the structures of Pai-Khoi and Subpolar Urals, respectively. The reconstruction of the prethrusting layout of the studied structures is presented.     

Paleomagnetism, geochronology, and magnetic mineralogy of Devonian dikes from the Kola alkaline province (NE Fennoscandian Shield)

The new paleomagnetic data on forty dikes and two intrusive plutons of Devonian age located in different parts of the Kola Peninsula, which have not been previously covered by systematic paleomagnetic studies, are reported. We describe the results of the rock magnetic, petrographic, and microprobe investigations of the Devonian dikes and present their isotopic ages (⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar, stepwise heating). Within the studied area, almost all the Devonian dikes, metamorphic Archaean-Proterozoic complexes of the Fennoscandian Shield, and Proterozoic dikes have undergone low-temperature hydrothermal-metasomatic alteration, which resulted in the formation of new magnetic minerals with a secondary (chemical) component of magnetization. The comparison of the paleomagnetic poles indicates the Early Jurassic age of the secondary component. We suggest that regional remagnetization event was caused by endogenic activity genetically related to the formation of the Barents Sea trap province 200–170 Ma ago. On the basis of the obtained data, the preliminary Devonian paleomagnetic pole of the East European Platform is determined.     

The new Permian–Triassic paleomagnetic pole for the East European Platform corrected for inclination shallowing

The results of detailed paleomagnetic studies in seven Upper Permian and Lower Triassic reference sections of East Europe (Middle Volga and Orenburg region) and Central Germany are presented. For each section, the coefficient of inclination shallowing f (King, 1955) is estimated by the Elongation–Inclination (E–I) method (Tauxe and Kent, 2004) and is found to vary from 0.4 to 0.9. The paleomagnetic directions, corrected for the inclination shallowing, are used to calculate the new Late Permian–Early Triassic paleomagnetic pole for the East European Platform (N = 7, PLat = 52.1°, PLong = 155.8°, A95 = 6.6°). Based on this pole, the geocentric axial dipole hypothesis close to the Paleozoic/Mesozoic boundary is tested by the single plate method. The absence of the statistically significant distinction between the obtained pole and the average Permian–Triassic (P–Tr) paleomagnetic pole of the Siberian Platform and the coeval pole of the North American Platform corrected for the opening of the Atlantic (Shatsillo et al., 2006) is interpreted by us as evidence that ~250 Ma the configuration of the magnetic field of the Earth was predominantly dipolar; i.e., the contribution of nondipole components was at most 10% of the main magnetic field. In our opinion, the hypothesis of the nondipolity of the geomagnetic field at the P–Tr boundary, which has been repeatedly discussed in recent decades (Van der Voo and Torsvik, 2001; Bazhenov and Shatsillo, 2010; Veselovskiy and Pavlov, 2006), resulted from disregarding the effect of inclination shallowing in the paleomagnetic determinations from sedimentary rocks of “stable” Europe (the East European platform and West European plate).     

Paleomagnetism of Permian rocks of the Subpolar Urals,Kozhim River: To the history of evolution of the thrust structures in the Subpolar Urals

The collections of Permian rocks from sections of the Kozhim River (Asselian, Kungurian, and Ufimian stages) and the Kama River (Ufimian and Kazanian stages) are studied. The paleomagnetic directions determined on the studied structures closely agree with the existing data for the Subpolar Urals and Russian Platform (RP). In the Middle Permian red clays of the Kama River region, the paleomagnetic pole N/n = 28/51, Φ = 47° N, Λ = 168° E, dp = 3°, and dm = 5° is obtained. The analysis of the existing paleomagnetic determinations for the Early and Middle Permian of the Russian and Siberian platforms and Kazakhstan blocks (KBs) is carried out. For the Subpolar Ural sections, the estimates are obtained for the local rotations during the collision of the Uralian structures with the Russian and Siberian platforms and KBs. The amplitudes of the horizontal displacements of the studied structures are, on average, 170 ± 15 km per Middle Permian. The scenario describing the evolution of the horizontal rotations of the structures of Subpolar Urals is suggested.     

Late cretaceous to early paleogene paleomagnetic results from Sikhote Alin, far eastern Russia: implications for deformation of East Asia

Welded tuffs in the Bogopol and Sijanov groups were sampled at 27 sites from 12 caldera formations in the Sikhote Alin mountain range around Kavalerovo (44.3°N, 135.0°E) for chronological and paleomagnetic studies. KAr age dates show that the welded tuffs erupted between 66 Ma and 46 Ma. All sites yield reliable paleomagnetic directions, with unblocking temperatures higher than 560°C. The high-temperature component at 12 sites and the medium-temperature component at 3 sites in the Bogopol Group show reversed polarity (D = 193.7°, I = −57.6°,₉₅ = 8.1°). The high-temperature component at 11 sites in the Sijanov Group showed both reversed and normal polarities and its mean direction reveals no detectable deflection from north (D = −2.9°, I = 59.6°,₉₅ = 11.2°). The combined paleomagnetic direction of the two groups yields a paleomagnetic pole of 250.5°E, 84.1°N (A₉₅ = 8.8°), which falls near Cretaceous paleomagnetic poles from Outer Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, the North China Block and the South China Block. The Sikhote Alin area appears not to have been subjected to detectable motion with respect to East Asia since about 50 Ma. This implies that the Sikhote Alin area behaved as an integral part of East Asia during the opening of the Japan Sea at about 15 Ma. However, significant separation between the paleomagnetic poles of East Asia and Europe during the Jurassic-Paleogene implies a major relative movement between these two blocks since the Paleogene.     

Paleomagnetic evidence for the clockwise rotation of Southwest Japan

Over 500 oriented samples of felsic rocks of Cretaceous to Middle Miocene age were collected along the Go¯River in the central part of Southwest Japan, in an attempt to detect the process of tectonic rotation of Southwest Japan from the paleomagnetic view point. Thermal demagnetization was successful in isolating characteristic directions from the remanent magnetization of samples. Reliability of the paleomagnetic direction is ascertained through the agreement of directions from different kinds of rocks as well as the presence of both normal and reversed polarities. The paleomagnetic results establish that Southwest Japan began to rotate clockwise through58 ± 14° later than 28 Ma and ceased its motion by about 12 Ma. Southwest Japan has undergone no detectable north-south translation since 28 Ma. These results imply that southwest Japan was rotated about the pivot around 34°N, 129°E between 28 Ma and 12 Ma in association with the opening of the Japan Sea.     

New Early Cretaceous paleomagnetic results from Qilian orogenic belt and its tectonic implications

Lower Cretaceous red sedimentary rocks from the depositional basin of East Qilian fold belt have been collected for a paleomagnetic study. Stepwise thermal demagnetization reveals two or three components of magnetization from dark red sandstones. Low-temperature magnetic component is consistent with the present Earth Field direction in geographic coordinates. High-temperature magnetic components are mainly carried by hematite. The mean pole of 19 sites for high-temperature magnetic components after tilt-correction is λ=62.2°N, φ=193.4°E, A95=3.2°, and it passes fold tests at 99% confidence level and reversal tests at 95% confidence level. The paleopole is insignificantly different from that of Halim et al. (1998) from the same sampling area at the 95% confidence level. Compared with paleomagnetic results for North China, South China, and Eurasia, our results suggest that no significant relative latitudinal displacement has taken place between Lanzhou region and these blocks since Cretaceous time. Remarkably, the pole of Lanzhou shows a 20° clockwise rotation with respect to those of North China, South China, and Eurasia. Geological information indicates that the crustal shortening in the western part of Qilian is greater than that in eastern part. In this case, the clockwise rotation of sampling area was related to India/Eurasia collision, and this collision resulted in a left-lateral strike-slip motion of the Altun fault in north Tibetan Plateau after the Cretaceous.     

塔里木地块奥陶纪古地磁新结果及其构造意义

本文报道塔里木地块阿克苏—柯坪—巴楚地区奥陶纪古地磁研究新结果.对采自44个采点的灰岩、泥灰岩及泥质砂岩样品的系统岩石磁学和古地磁学研究表明,所有样品可分成两组：第一类样品以赤铁矿和少量磁铁矿为主要载磁矿物,该类样品通常可分离出特征剩磁组分A;第二类样品以磁铁矿为主要载磁矿物,系统退磁揭示出这类样品中存在特征剩磁组分B.特征剩磁组分A分布于绝大多数奥陶纪样品中,具有双极性,但褶皱检验结果为负,推测其可能为新生代重磁化.特征剩磁组分B仅能从少部分中晚奥陶世样品中分离出,但褶皱检验结果为正,且其所对应古地磁极位置（40.7°S,183.3°E,dp/dm=4.8°/6.9°）与塔里木地块古生代中期以来的古地磁极位置显著差别,表明其很可能为岩石形成时期所获得的原生剩磁.古地磁结果表明塔里木地块中晚奥陶世位于南半球中低纬度地区,很可能与扬子地块一起位于冈瓦纳古大陆的边缘;中晚奥陶世之后,塔里木地块通过大幅度北向漂移和顺时针旋转,逐步与冈瓦纳大陆分离、并越过古赤道;至晚石炭世,塔里木地块已到达古亚洲洋构造域的南缘.     

Paleomagnetism of the Lower Ordovician and Cambrian sedimentary rocks in the section of the Narva River right bank: For the construction of the Baltic Kinematic model in the Early Paleozoic

The paleomagnetic study of the Lower Ordovician and Cambrian sedimentary rocks exposed on the Narva River’s right bank revealed a multicomponent composition of natural remanent magnetization. Among four distinguished medium- and high-temperature magnetization components, the bipolar component, which carries the reversal test, is probably the primary component and reflects the geomagnetic field direction and variations during the Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician. The pole positions corresponding to this component have coordinates 22°N, 87°E (dp/dm = 5°/6°) for the Late Cambrian, and 18°N, 55°E (dp/dm = 5°/7°) for the Early Ordovician (Tremadocian and Arenigian). Together with the recently published paleomagnetic poles for the sections of the Early Ordovician in the Leningrad Region and the series of poles obtained when the Ordovician limestones were studied in Sweden, these poles form new key frameworks for the Upper Cambrian-Middle Ordovician segment of the apparent polar-wander path (APWP) for the Baltica. Based on these data, we propose a renewed version of the APWP segment: the model of the Baltica motion as its clockwise turn by 68° around the remote Euler pole. This motion around the great circle describes (with an error of A₉₅ = 10°) both variations in the Baltic position from 500 to 456 Ma ago in paleolatitude and its turn relative to paleomeridians. According to the monopolar components of natural remanent magnetization detected in the Narva rocks, the South Pole positions are 2°S, 351°E (dp/dm = 5°/9°), 39°S, 327°E, (dp/dm = 4°/7°), and 42°S and 311°E (dp/dm = 9°/13°). It is assumed that these components reflect regional remagnetization events in the Silurian, Late Permian, and Triassic.     

No significant post-Eocene rotation of the Moesian Platform and Rhodope (Bulgaria): Implications for the kinematic evolution of the Carpathian and Aegean arcs

The region located between the Carpathian–Balkan and Aegean arcs, the Moesian Platform and Bulgarian Rhodope, is generally assumed to have been stably attached to the East European craton during the Cenozoic evolution of these arcs. The kinematic evolution of this region is, however, poorly constrained by paleomagnetic analysis. In this paper we provide new paleomagnetic data (800 volcanic and sedimentary samples from 12 localities) showing no significant post-Eocene rotation of the Moesian platform and Rhodope with respect to Eurasia, therefore confirming the stability of this region. We compare this result to a provided review of paleomagnetic data from the South Carpathians (Tisza block) and the Aegean region. The Tisza block underwent 68.4 ± 16.7° of middle Miocene ( 15–10 Ma) clockwise rotation with respect to the Moesian Platform, in line with previous rotation estimates based on structural geology. The stability of the Moesian platform during middle Miocene eastward emplacement of the Tisza block into the Carpathian back-arc supports dextral shear along the Southern Carpathians recorded by 13–6 Ma clockwise strike-slip related rotations in foreland deposits. The new reference direction for the Moesian platform and Rhodope allows accurate quantification of the rotation difference with the west Aegean domain at 38.0 ± 7.2° occurring between 15 and 8 Ma. To accommodate this rotation, we propose that the pivot point of the west-Aegean rotation was located approximately in the middle of the rotating domain rather than at the northern tip as previously proposed. This new scenario predicts less extension southeast of the pivot point, in good agreement with estimates from Aegean structural geology. Northwest of the pivot point, the model requires contraction or extrusion that can be accommodated by the coeval motion of the Tisza Block around the northwestern edge of the Moesian platform.     

Paleomagnetism of early paleozoic geological complexes of Mongolia

Most of the studied Early Phanerozoic rocks of West Mongolia have undergone repeated remagnetization. Secondary magnetization components with normal and reversed polarity are isolated. The magnetization components with normal polarity are associated with the Mesozoic remagnetization of the rocks. The components with reversed polarity were probably formed during the Carboniferous–Permian superchron of reversed polarity. The analysis of the distribution of the reversed-polarity magnetization component in the structure of Mongolia permits some zonation. Within Mongolia, the regions with insignificant post- Permian deformations and complicated post-Permian deformations are identified; also the area of rotations of large geological blocks about the horizontal axis (Khan-Khukhei Ridge) is distinguished. It is hypothesized that in the Ordovician rocks of West Mongolia, the magnetization component that is close to primary was identified. If this is the case, the paleolatitude calculated from this magnetization direction corresponds to the interval 14°–17°–20° (minimal–mean–maximal) of probably northern latitude     

Paleomagnetism of Carboniferous-Permian and early jurassic geological complexes in Mongolia

Paleomagnetic characteristics of Carboniferous-Permian and Early Mesozoic geological complexes in Mongolia are studied. The studied rocks are shown to possess a multicomponent magnetization. Lowtemperature overprinting components of normal polarity discovered in nearly all of the studied strata were acquired after main deformation stages of the rocks, apparently in the Cenozoic. High-temperature overprinting components of reversed polarity identified in rocks of an active continental margin (ACM) were acquired when bimodal magma melts moved through ACM volcanic sequences. Late Carboniferous and Early Permian paleomagnetic poles of Mongolia calculated from directions of primary magnetization components are, respectively (Λ = 154.6, Φ = 32.2, A = 7.8) and (Λ = 95, Φ = 71, A = 8.7). Apparently, the territory of Mongolia in the Early Permian was a margin of the Siberian craton and was separated from the Northern China block by a basin extending for no less than 2000 km in the E-W direction. The strike of a marginal-continental volcanic belt was submeridional and a plate subducted under the continent from the east. Late Carboniferous-Permian intraplate magmatic complexes of Mongolia formed at various latitudes from various mantle sources during the northward movement of the Mongolian part of the Siberian continent. The oldest bimodal sequences of the Gobi-Tien Shan zone (318–314 Ma) formed at more southern latitudes (40°–47°–54°N) as compared with the 275-Ma complexes of the Gobi-Altai zone (51°–58°–67°N). Thus, sources of the Carboniferous-Permian intraplate magmatism in Central Asia either occupied a vast mantle region (up to 1000 km in the latitude direction) or moved together with the Asian continent.     

Paleomagnetism and magnetic fabrics of Mio-Pliocene hypabyssal rocks of the Combia event,Colombia: tectonic implications

Mio-Pliocene hypabyssal rocks of the Combia event in the Amagá basin (NW Andes-Colombia), contain a deformational record of the activity of the Cauca-Romeral fault system, and the interaction of terranes within the Choco and northern Andean blocks. Previous paleomagnetic studies interpreted coherent counterclockwise rotations and noncoherent modes of rotation about horizontal axes for the Combia intrusives. However, rotations were determined from in-situ paleomagnetic directions and the existing data set is small. In order to better understand the deformational features of these rocks, we collected new paleomagnetic, structural, petrographic and magnetic fabric data from well exposed hypabyssal rocks of the Combia event. The magnetizations of these rocks are controlled by a low-coercivity ferromagnetic phase. Samples respond well to alternatingfield demagnetization isolating a magnetization component of moderate coercivity. These rocks do not have ductile deformation features. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and morphotectonic analysis indicate that rotation about horizontal axes is consistently to the south-east, suggesting the need to apply a structural correction to the paleomagnetic data. The relationships between magnetic foliations and host-rock bedding planes indicate tectonic activity initiated before ~10 Ma. We present a mean paleomagnetic direction (declination D = 342.8°, inclination I = 12.1°, 95% confidence interval α₉₅ = 12.5°, precision parameter k = 8.6, number of specimens n = 18) that incorporates structural corrections. The dispersion S = 27° of site means cannot be explained by secular variation alone, but it indicates a counterclockwise rotation of 14.8° ± 12.7° relative to stable South America. Paleomagnetic data within a block bounded by the Sabanalarga and Cascajosa faults forms a more coherent data set (D = 336.5°, I = 17.4°, α₉₅ = 11.7°, k = 12.5, n = 14), which differs from sites west of the Sabanalarga fault and shows a rotation about a vertical axis of 20.2° ± 10.7°. Deformation in the Amagá basin may be tentatively explained by the obduction of the Cañas Gordas terrane over the northwestern margin of the northern Andean block. However, it can also be related to the local effects of the Cauca-Romeral fault system.     

Results of paleomagnetic study of Early Proterozoic rocks in the Baikal Range of the Siberian craton

This paper presents paleomagnetic results obtained from the study of Early Proterozoic rocks in the Baikal Range of the Siberian craton, namely, the 1850–1880-Ma volcanicalstic rocks of the Akitkanskian series of the North Baikal volcanic-plutonic belt) and 1674-Ma basic dikes of the Chaya complex within the massif. The data of this work are used to reconstruct the development of the Siberian craton structure in the Early Precambrian. The projections of the inferred paleomagnetic directions onto a sphere form S (southern) and W (western) groups of vectors of characteristic magnetization components. The S group consists of three clusters representing primary magnetization components belonging to different time levels of the end of the Early Proterozoic. The W group is represented by directions associated with a metachronous magnetization probably acquired during the Riphean. Four paleomagnetic poles are obtained. Two of them that can be regarded as key poles correspond to time levels of 1875 and 1670 Ma (the Early Proterozoic). The two other poles can be used for a detailed reconstruction of the Proterozoic segment of the Siberian apparent polar wander path. The data presented in the paper indicate that the formation of the southern Siberian craton structure was accomplished at the end of the Early Proterozoic, which resulted in a synchronous motion of different blocks composing the southern flank of the craton (in particular, the Sharyzhalgai and Baikal Ranges).     

Amount of clockwise rotation of Southwest Japan — fan shape opening of the southwestern part of the Japan Sea

Paleomagnetic measurements have been carried out on welded tuffs ranging in age between 58 Ma and 112 Ma from Yamaguchi and Go¯river areas in the central part of Southwest Japan. The new data, together with those of younger igneous rocks published previously, define the change of paleomagnetic field direction during the late Mesozoic/ Cenozoic period for Southwest Japan. The paleomagnetic direction from this area has pointed 56 ± 3° clockwise from the expected field direction estimated from APWP (apparent polar wandering path) of the whole of Eurasia during the period between 100 and 20 Ma. In comparison with the expected one from the eastern margin of Eurasia (Korea, China, Siberia), the Cretaceous field direction of Southwest Japan shows the clockwise deflection by 44–49°. These results establish that while the eastern margin of Eurasia, including Southwest Japan, was rotated more or less with respect to the main part of Eurasia during last 100 Ma, Southwest Japan was rotated clockwise through more than 40° with respect to the eastern margin of Eurasia since 20 Ma. The large amount of rotation for Southwest Japan implies that it is rotated by an opening of the southwestern part of the Japan Sea, which widens northeastward (fan shape opening). The tectonic feature of Southwest Japan and the Japan Sea is analogous to that of Corso-Sardinia and the Ligurian Sea in the Mediterranean, indicating that the fan shape opening is a specific feature of the rifting of the continental sliver at the continental rim.     

New paleomagnetic data on the Anabar Uplift and the Uchur-Maya region and their implications for the paleogeography and geological correlation of the Riphean of the Siberian Platform

The results of paleomagnetic studies of the reference sections of the Riphean and Late Proterozoic intrusive bodies of two remote areas of the Siberian Platform are presented. Within the limits of the Uchur-Maya region the sedimentary rocks of the Gonam, Omakhta, Ennin and Konder formations were studied; and the Riphean sedimentary rocks of the Burdur and Kotuykan formations on the northern and western slopes of the Anabar Uplift and, also, the Late Proterozoic intrusive complexes, located in the basins of the Fomich, Magan, Dzhogdzho and Kotuykan Rivers were studied. The paleomagnetic poles obtained in the course of this work and the present-day geochronological data give grounds to assume that: (1) the accumulation of the Riphean of the Anabar Uplift occurred after the formation of the Uchurskaya series of the Uchur-Maya region and was completed in approximately 1.5 Ga; (2) the Konder layers, compared according to the correlation pattern accepted at the present time [Semikhatov and Serebryakov, 1983] with the bottoms of the Totta formation, can be related to the appreciably more ancient stratigraphic level; (3) the intrusion of the studied intrusive bodies of the northern and western slopes of the Anabar Uplift occurred nonsimultaneously, although within close time intervals of approximately 1.5 Ga. The estimates of the kinematic parameters of the drift of the Siberian Platform within an interval of 1.7–1.0 Ga is carried out.     

Evolution of the Komiji Syncline in the North Fossa Magna, central Japan: Paleomagnetic and K–Ar age insights

Abstract We carried out paleomagnetic measurements and K–Ar dating on Neogene andesitic lavas and sills of the Shigarami Formation in North Fossa Magna, central Japan. The Shigarami Formation is distributed in the axial part of the Komiji Syncline in the folding zone of the southwestern North Fossa Magna. Results of the present study indicate that the Komiji Syncline was formed shortly after 4.42 ± 0.12 Ma during the Pliocene. The sedimentary rocks of the Shigarami Formation consist of shallow marine and fluvial deposits. Intrusions of andesitic sills are found in the shallow marine deposits and two andesitic lava flows are present in the fluvial deposits. Oriented samples were taken from the sills at four sites and from the lavas at three sites. The samples produced stable remanent magnetization through stepwise alternating field and thermal demagnetizations. Results of a positive fold test indicate that the stable remanent magnetizations concentrate around a mean reversed polarity of declination = 169.0°, inclination = ?58.5° and 95% confidence limit = 9.0° after corrections have been made according to the direction of the bedding of the sedimentary rocks. Four fresh samples were selected for K–Ar dating from the samples used for paleomagnetic measurements. The groundmass of three samples taken from the sills yield ages of 4.42 ± 0.12, 4.49 ± 0.22 and 4.69 ± 0.13 Ma, whereas the one taken from the lower lava has an age of 5.91 ± 0.26 Ma. We believe that the Komiji Syncline was formed after the emplacement of lavas and sills in the area, because the descending Miocene strata were folded concordantly with the Shigarami Formation. The Pliocene and Pleistocene strata rest unconformably on the folded strata. The deformation might have progressed during the Pliocene, then slowed down in the Early Pleistocene. Our results suggest that the northwestward motion of the Philippine Sea Plate and the collision of the Tanzawa Block affected not only the South Fossa Magna, but also the North Fossa Magna.     

Paleomagnetism of the Upper Vendian Basu formation of the Bashkirian Meganticlinorium revisited

We have carried out paleomagnetic studies of the Upper Vendian sedimentary rocks from the Bashkirian Meganticlinorium (Southern Ural). The rocks were sampled at three localities spread over more than 100 km. Totally, more than 300 samples were collected from about 40 sampling sites. Stepwise thermal demagnetization up to 700°C revealed a stable component of magnetization of either polarity in 25 sites. The fold test and the reversal test for this component are positive, which is usually regarded as a sound argument in favor of the primary origin of magnetization. However, the Basu paleomagnetic pole (longitude 187.3°E, latitude 1.1°N) is located near the Late Ordovician-Early Silurian segment of the apparent polar wander path for Baltica, which might indicate a Paleozoic remagnetization of Vendian rocks. In this work we analyze different interpretations of the obtained results and evaluate the reliability of the Late Riphean and Vendian paleomagnetic data for Baltica.     

Paleomagnetic constraints on Miocene rotation in the central Japan Arc

We present new Middle Miocene paleomagnetic data for the central Japan Arc, and discuss their implications for Miocene rotation. To obtain a refined paleodirection, we made magnetic measurements on basaltic to andesitic lavas and intrusive rocks from 12 sites in the Tsugu volcanic rocks (ca 15 Ma) in the northern part of the Shitara area, Japan. Significant secondary magnetizations in samples with strong magnetic intensities are interpreted as lightning‐induced components. Mean directions carried by magnetite and/or titanomagnetite were determined for all sites. An overall mean direction with a northerly declination was obtained from dual‐polarity site means for nine sites. This direction is indistinguishable from the mean direction for coeval parallel dikes in the northern part of the Shitara area, and also indistinguishable from the Miocene reference direction derived from the paleopole for the North China Block in the Asian continent. These comparisons suggest little or no rotation or latitudinal motion in the study area with respect to the North China Block since 15 Ma. We obtained a refined early Middle Miocene paleodirection (D = 9.7°, I = 52.5°, α₉₅ = 4.8°; 30 sites) and paleopole (82.0°N, 230.8°E, A₉₅ = 5.6°) for Shitara by combining data from the Tsugu volcanic rocks and a coeval dike swarm. An anomalous direction found at three sites could be a record of an extraordinary field during a geomagnetic polarity transition or excursion. Paleomagnetic data from Shitara suggest that: (i) the western wing of the Kanto Syntaxis, a prominent cuspate geologic structure in central Honshu, underwent a counterclockwise rotation with respect to the main part of the southwestern Japan Arc between ca 17.5 Ma and 15 Ma; (ii) collision between the Japan and Izu–Bonin (Ogasawara) Arcs began prior to 15 Ma; and (iii) clockwise rotation of the entire southwestern part of the Japan Arc had ceased by 15 Ma.