Paleomagnetic study of Cenozoic sediments from the Zaisan basin (SE Kazakhstan) and the Chuya depression (Siberian Altai): tectonic implications for central Asia

This paper presents new paleomagnetic results on Cenozoic rocks from northern central Asia. Eighteen sites were sampled in Pliocene to Miocene clays and sandy clays of the Zaisan basin (southeastern Kazakhstan) and 12 sites in the upper Oligocene to Pleistocene clays and sandstones of the Chuya depression (Siberian Altai).Thermal demagnetization of isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) showed that hematite and magnetite are the main ferromagnetic minerals in the deposits of the Zaisan basin. Stepwise thermal demagnetization up to 640–660 °C isolated a characteristic (ChRM) component of either normal or reverse polarity at nine sites. At two other sites, the great circles convergence method yielded a definite direction. Measurements of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility showed that the hematite-bearing sediments preserved their depositional fabric. These results suggest a primary origin of the ChRM and were substantiated by positive fold and reversal tests. The mean paleomagnetic direction for the Zaisan basin (D=9°, I=59°, k=19, α₉₅=11°) is close to the expected direction derived from the APW path of Eurasia [J. Geophys. Res. 96 (1991) 4029] and shows that the basin did not rotated relative to stable Asia during the Tertiary.In the upper Pliocene–Pleistocene sandstones of the Chuya depression, a very stable ChRM carried by hematite was found. Its mean direction (D=9°, I=46°, k=25, α₉₅=7°) is characterized by declination close to the one excepted for early Quaternary, whereas inclination is lower. In the middle Miocene to lower Pliocene clays and sandstones, a stable ChRM of both normal and reverse polarities carried by magnetite was isolated. Its mean direction (D=332°, I=63°, k=31, α₉₅=4°) is deviated with respect to the reference direction and implies a Neogene, 39±8° counterclockwise rotation of the Chuya depression relative to stable Asia. These results and those from the literature suggest that the different amount of rotation found in the two basins is related to a sharp variation in their tectonic style, predominantly compressive in the Zaisan basin and transpressive in the Siberian Altai. At a larger scale, the pattern of vertical axis rotations deduced from paleomagnetic data in northern central Asia is consistent with the hypothesis of a large left-lateral shear zone running from the Pamirs to the Baikal. Heterogeneous rotations, however, indicate changes in style of faulting along the shear zone and local effect for the domains with the largest rotations.     

Reversal asymmetry in Mesoproterozoic overprinting of the 1.88-Ga Gunflint Formation, Ontario, Canada: non-dipole effects or apparent polar wander?

Eighty-two palaeomagnetic samples of calcareous and jaspilitic grainstones (iron-formation or ‘taconite’) and chert carbonate were collected from the 1.88-Ga Gunflint Formation at 22 sites in the Thunder Bay area, Ontario. Twenty clasts of Gunflint taconite also were sampled from the basal conglomerate of the overlying Mesoproterozoic Sibley Group. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate the Gunflint Formation in the sampling area has not experienced regional dynamic metamorphism. Analyses by variable-field translation balance and X-ray diffraction show that the predominant magnetic mineral is hematite but a small amount of magnetite also is present in some samples. Altogether, 213 Gunflint specimens and 59 Sibley conglomerate specimens were subjected to stepwise thermal demagnetisation and 74 Gunflint specimens to stepwise alternating-frequency demagnetisation. The following components were isolated for the taconites:

• Gunflint magnetite: normal declination D=293.4°, inclination I=30.8°, α₉₅=7.2°, n=21; reverse D=86.7°, I=–54.6°, α₉₅=5.8°, n=29.

• Gunflint hematite: normal D=243.6°, I=23.6°, α₉₅=6.0°, n=11; reverse D=70.3°, I=–51.4°, α₉₅=3.2°, n=79.

• Sibley clasts magnetite: normal D=282.7°, I=33.4°, α₉₅=7.6°, n=20.

• Sibley clasts hematite: normal D=254.5°, I=56.2°, α₉₅=8.4°, n=13; reverse D=110.6°, I=–55.7°, α₉₅=8.3°, n=11.

None of these sets passed the reversal test, with the normal component generally being the shallower. Fold tests were negative or inconclusive and the conglomerate test also was negative. Chert carbonate at one other site appears to have acquired a remanence carried by magnetite (D=97.3°, I=−78.2°, α₉₅=6.3°, n=18) prior to folding related to Keweenawan (1.1 Ga) Logan diabase sill emplacement. Most of the components we identified match components for Keweenawan sills, volcanic rocks, intrusions and baked contact rocks in the Thunder Bay area, indicating that Keweenawan magmatism caused widespread chemical remagnetisation of the Proterozoic country rock in our sampling area. Although others have argued that asymmetry was a feature of the Keweenawan geomagnetic field, the declinations of our Gunflint and Sibley hematite and magnetite components are different, suggesting that the components were acquired at significantly different times. We conclude that the reversal asymmetry shown by our Gunflint and Sibley data may best be ascribed to apparent polar wander during Keweenawan times.     

Reappraisal of paleomagnetic data from Gargano (South Italy)

The platform limestones of Apulia (Italy) outcropping in the Gargano peninsula have been restudied. Paleomagnetic research has been carried out on Upper Cretaceous, Lower Cretaceous and Jurassic rocks. Despite the low intensities of the NRM (10–100 μA/m), all samples (268) could be cleaned by stepwise A.F. and/or thermal demagnetization treatments. NRM directions could be determined accurately and reproducibly for 85% of the samples, using a ScT cryogenic magnetometer and double precision measuring procedures. NRM of the Jurassic limestone is carried by secondary haematite and the results are therefore rejected from further consideration. The Upper and Lower Cretaceous limestones have an NRM carried by magnetite. Minor bedding tilt corrections improve the grouping of the site-mean results. The Upper Cretaceous “Scaglia” limestone (Turonian-Senonian) reveals a characteristic mean direction of decl. = 327.7°, incl. = 38.2°, α₉₅ = 4.3° (21 sites), while the Lower Cretaceous “Maiolica” limestone (Neocomian-Aptian/Albian) reveals a characteristic mean direction of decl. = 303.1°, incl. = 35.1°, α₉₅ = 8.7° (8 sites). The Cretaceous results show a post-Aptian/Albian counterclockwise rotation of about 25°, which is expressed by the smeared distribution of the Late Cretaceous site-mean results and a post-Senonian (i.e. Tertiary) counterclockwise rotation of the same amount with respect to the pole. These results are in excellent agreement with contemporaneous paleomagnetic results from other peri-Adriatic regions. A Tertiary counterclockwise rotation of all the stable Adriatic block is strongly supported by the new results.     

Petrology, geochemistry and magnetic properties of Sadara sill: Evidence of rift related magmatism from Kutch basin, northwest India

Mafic volcanic rocks of the Mesozoic Kutch basin represent the earliest phase of Deccan volcanic activity. An olivine-clinopyroxene-plagioclase-phyric undersaturated basalt occurs as a sill near Sadara in the Pachham upland, Northern Kutch. The Sadara sill is deformed and emplaced along faults. The sill is alkaline in character and is transitional between basalt and basanite. Compared to primitive mantle, the Sadara sill is enriched in Sr, Ba, Pb and LREE but depleted in Nb, Cr, Y, Cs and Lu. Fractional crystallization of olivine and clinopyroxene from an alkaline mafic melt generated by low degree partial melting of mantle peridotite can explain the observed chemical variation in the sill.IRM and L-F test experiments and mineral analyses show titano-magnetite as the major remanence carrying magnetic mineral. AF and thermal demagnetizations of the Sadara sill yielded a mean ChRM direction as D=315.6°, I=−43.0° (α₉₅=9.78; k=25.38) and the corresponding VGP at 25°S; 114.6°E (dp/dm=6.58°/11.6°). The Sadara sill pole is significantly different from those of the Deccan (65 Ma) and the Rajmahal Traps (118 Ma) but is close to the Cretaceous poles of 85–91 Ma rock units from southern India. This suggests a pre-Deccan age for the sill.     

Paleomagnetism of the middle Cretaceous Iritono granite in the Abukuma region, northeast Japan

We have studied the paleomagnetism of the middle Cretaceous Iritono granite of the Abukuma massif in northeast Japan together with ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar dating. Paleomagnetic samples were collected from ten sites of the Iritono granite (102 Ma ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar age) and two sites of its associated gabbroic dikes. The samples were carefully subjected to alternating field and thermal demagnetizations and to rock magnetic analyses. Most of natural remanent magnetizations show mixtures of two components: (1) H component, high coercivity (B_c > 50–90 mT) or high blocking temperature (T_b > 350–560 °C) component and (2) L component, relatively low B_c or low T_b component. H component was obtained from all the 12 sites to give a mean direction of shallow inclination and northwesterly declination (I = 29.9°, D = 311.0°, α₉₅ = 2.7°, N = 12). This direction is different from the geocentric axial dipole field at the present latitude (I = 56.5°) and the typical direction of the Cenozoic remagnetization in northeast Japan. Since rock magnetic properties indicate that the H component of the Iritono granite is carried mainly by magnetite inclusions in plagioclase, this component probably retains a primary one. Thus the shallow inclination indicates that the Abukuma massif was located at a low latitude (16.1 ± 1.6°N) about 100 Ma and then drifted northward by about 20° in latitude. The northwesterly deflection is attributed mostly to the counterclockwise rotation of northeast Japan due to Miocene opening of the Japan Sea. According to this model, the low-pressure and high-temperature (low-P/high-T) metamorphism of the Abukuma massif, which has been well known as a typical location, would have not occurred in the present location. On the other hand, the L component is carried mainly by pyrrhotite and its mean direction shows a moderate inclination and a northwesterly declination (I = 42.8°, D = 311.5°, α₉₅ = 3.3°, N = 9). Since this direction is intermediate between the H component and early Cenozoic remagnetization in northeast Japan, some thermal event would have occurred at lower temperature than pyrrhotite Curie point ( 320 °C) during the middle Cretaceous to early Cenozoic time to have resulted in partial remagnetization.     

Internal deformation of Sikhote Alin volcanic belt, far eastern Russia: Paleocene paleomagnetic results

We present paleomagnetic results of Paleocene welded tuffs of the 53–50 Ma Bogopol Group from the northern region (46°N, 137°E) of the Sikhote Alin volcanic belt. Characteristic paleomagnetic directions with high unblocking temperature components above 560 °C were isolated from all the sites. A tilt-corrected mean paleomagnetic direction from the northern region is D=345.8°, I=49.9°, α₉₅=14.6° (N=9). The reliability of the magnetization is ascertained through the presence of normal and reversed polarities. The mean paleomagnetic direction from the northern region of the Sikhote Alin volcanic belt reflects a counterclockwise rotation of 29° from the Paleocene mean paleomagnetic direction expected from its southern region. The counterclockwise rotation of 25° is suggested from the paleomagnetic data of the Kisin Group that underlies the Bogopol Group. These results establish that internal tectonic deformation occurred within the Sikhote Alin volcanic belt over the past 50 Ma. The northern region from 44.6° to 46.0°N in the Sikhote Alin volcanic belt was subjected to counterclockwise rotational motion through 29±17° with respect to the southern region. The tectonic rotation of the northern region is ascribable to relative motion between the Zhuravlevka terrane and the Olginsk–Taukhinsk terranes that compose the basements of the Sikhote Alin volcanic belt.     

Palaeomagnetism of late Cretaceous sediments from southern Tibet: Evidence for the consistent palaeolatitudes of the southern margin of Eurasia prior to the collision with India

Twenty sites were drilled in the late Cretaceous Shexing Formation for palaeomagnetic studies in the Lhasa terrane near the locality of Maxiang (29.9°N/90.7°E). The stepwise thermal demagnetizations successfully isolated high unblocking temperature characteristic directions. The tilt-corrected mean direction is D/I = 350.8°/32.1° with α₉₅ = 8.1° and N = 20 sites, corresponding to a paleopole at 75.0°N, 306.7°E with A₉₅ = 6.8°. Positive fold tests indicate a primary origin for the characteristic remanence. Based on previous Cretaceous data mainly from the Takena Formation and Paleocene data from the Linzizong volcanic rocks near the city of Lhasa, the latitude of the southern margin of Asia is located at about 15°N, and yields a stable position of the Lhasa terrane during Cretaceous and Paleocene. Compared with expected paleomagnetic directions from the stable India and Eurasia blocks, the collision palaeolatitude further implies the total latitudinal convergence was accommodated by 1700 ± 800 km (16.2 ± 7.6°) between southern Tibet and stable Eurasia and 1500 ± 830 km (14.4 ± 7.9°) between southern Tibet and stable India since the collision of India and Eurasia. A collision age between c. 54 and 47 Ma was determined using the results for the southern margin of Eurasia according to our new data and the extent of ‘Greater India’.     

Paleomagnetism of the earliest Cretaceous to early late Cretaceous sandstones, Khorat Group, Northeast Thailand: Implications for tectonic plate movement of the Indochina block

A total of 400 samples (33 sites) were collected from the earliest Cretaceous to early Late Cretaceous sandstones of the Khorat Group in the Indochina block for paleomagnetic study to unravel the tectonic evolution of the region. The sites were adopted from 3 traverses located in the northern edge of the Khorat Plateau, northeastern Thailand. Results indicate that almost all the sandstones exhibit similar magnetic values with an average declination (D) = 31.7°, inclination (I) = 30.3°, λ = 59.7°,  = 190.9°, K = 54.4, and A₉₅ = 3.7 at reference point 17°30′N and 103°30′E. The calculated paleolatitude points are inferred to deviate from the present latitude point by 1.2 ± 2.3°. Only the lowermost part of the Cretaceous sandstones can pass a positive fold test at 95% confidence level. The relationship between the virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs) of Cretaceous rocks of the Indochina plate in Thailand and those of the South China plate advocate that there is a major displacement of Indochina along the northwest-trending Red River and associated faults by about 950 ± 150 km with a 16.0–17.0° clockwise rotation relative to the South China plate during earliest Cretaceous times. Paleomagnetic results of the early Late Cretaceous Indochina plate point to a 20–25° clockwise rotation relative to the present occurring since very Late Cretaceous (65 Myrs)–Early Neogene times which may be due to the collision between India and Asia.     

Paleomagnetism and geochronology of an Early Proterozoic quartz diorite in the southern Rind River Range, Wyoming, USA

We present geochronologic and paleomagnetic data from a north-trending quartz diorite intrusion that cuts Archean metasedimentary and metaigneous rocks of the South Pass Greenstone Belt of the Wyoming craton. The quartz diorite was previously thought to be either Archean or Early Proterozoic (?) in age and is cut by north and northeast-trending Proterozoic diabase dikes of uncertain age, for which we also report paleomagnetic data. New U–Pb analyses of baddeleyite and zircon from the quartz diorite yield a concordia upper intercept age of 2170±8 Ma (95% confidence). An ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar amphibole date from the same sample yields a similar apparent age of about 2124±30 Ma (2σ), thus confirming that the intrusion is Early Proterozoic in age and that it has probably not been thermally disturbed since emplacement. A magmatic event at ca. 2.17 Ga has not previously been documented in the Wyoming craton. The quartz diorite and one of the crosscutting diabase dikes yield essentially identical, well-defined characteristic remanent magnetizations. Results from eight sites in the quartz diorite yield an in situ mean direction of north declination and moderate to steep positive inclination (Dec.=355°, Inc.=65°, k=145, α₉₅=5°) with a paleomagnetic pole at 84°N, 215°E (δm=6°, δp=7°). Data from other diabase dike sites are inconsistent with the quartz diorite results, but the importance of these results is uncertain because the age of the dikes is not well known. Interpretation of the quartz diorite remanent magnetization is problematic. The in situ direction is similar to expected directions for magnetizations of Late Cretaceous/early Tertiary age. However, there is no compelling evidence to suggest that these rocks were remagnetized during the late Mesozoic or Cenozoic. Assuming this magnetization to be primary, then the in situ paleomagnetic pole is strongly discordant with poles of 2167, 2214, and 2217 Ma from the Canadian Shield, and is consistent with proposed separation of the Wyoming Craton and Laurentia prior to about 1.8 Ga. Correcting the quartz diorite pole for the possible effects of Laramide-age tilting of the Wind River Range, based on the attitude of nearby overlying Cambrian Flathead Sandstone (dip=20°, N20°E), gives a tilt corrected pole of 75°N, 58°E (δm=4°, δp=6°), which is also discordant with respect to time-equivalent poles from the Superior Province. Reconstruction of the Superior and Wyoming Province using a rotation similar to that proposed by Roscoe and Card [Can. J. Earth Sci. 46(1993)2475] is problematic, but reconstruction of the Superior and Wyoming Provinces based on restoring them to their correct paleolatitude and orientation using a closest approach fit indicates that the two cratons could have been adjacent at about 2.17 Ga prior to rifting at about 2.15 Ga. The paleomagnetic data presented are consistent with the hypothesis that the Huronian and Snowy Pass Supergroups could have evolved as part of a single epicratonic sedimentary basin during the Early Proterozoic.     

A new palaeomagnetic investigation of Mesozoic igneous rocks in Australia

Palaeomagnetic results have been obtained from four Australian igneous rock formations ranging in age from Early Jurassic to Early Cretaceous. These new sampling localities cover a much larger area than previously represented by Australian data. It is demonstrated that the pole positions yielded by the Kangaroo Island basalt (viz. 39° S 183° E, A₉₅ = 11°) dated at 170 m.y. and the Early Jurassic western Victoria basalts (viz. 47° S 18 6° E, A 95 = 4°) agree with results from other continents in the context of Gondwanaland. The pole position for the Bendigo dykes (47° S 135° E, A₉₅ = 39°) confirm the ‘anomalous’ results previously obtained from southeastern Australia. The fourth pole position, obtained from the Bunbury basalt of Western Australia (dated at around 90 m.y.) is in good agreement with other Cretaceous data for Australia, implying that pole positions for the Jurrassic and Cretaceous periods should now be considered separately.     

Paleomagnetic dating of Alleghanian orogenesis and mineralisation in the Mascot–Jefferson City zinc district of East Tennessee, USA

The Mascot–Jefferson City (M-JC) Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposits are in the Valley and Ridge province of the Appalachian orogen in East Tennessee. They have been a major source of zinc for the USA but their age is uncertain and thus their genesis controversial. About 10 specimens from each of 37 sites have been analysed paleomagnetically using alternating field and thermal step demagnetisation methods and saturation isothermal remanence methods. The sites sample limestones, dolostones, breccia clasts and sphalerite–dolomite MVT mineralisation from mines in the Lower Ordovician Kingsport and Mascot formations of the Knox Group. The characteristic remanent magnetisation (ChRM) is carried by magnetite in the limestones, by both magnetite and pyrrhotite in the dolostones and by pyrrhotite preferentially to magnetite in the mineralisation. Mineralized sites have a more intense ChRM than non-mineralised, indicating that the mineralising and magnetisation event are coeval. Paleomagnetic breccia tests on clasts at the three sites are negative, indicating that their ChRM is post-depositional remagnetisation, and a paleomagnetic fold test is negative, indicating that the ChRM is a remagnetisation, and a post-dates peak Alleghanian deformation. The unit mean ChRM direction for the: (a) limestones gives a paleopole at 129°E, 12°N (d_p=18°, d_m=26°, N=3), indicating diagenesis formed a secondary chemical remanent magnetisation during the Late Ordovician–Early Silurian; (b) dolomitic limestones and dolostone host rocks gives a paleopole at 125.3°E, 31.9°N (d_p=5.3°, d_m=9.4°, N=7), recording regional dolomitisation at 334±14 Ma (1σ); and (c) MVT mineralisation gives a paleopole at 128.7°E, 34.0°N (d_p=2.4°, d_m=4.4°, N=25), showing that it acquired its primary chemical remanence at 316±8 Ma (1σ). The mineralisation is interpreted to have formed from hydrothermal fluid flow, either gravity or tectonically driven, after peak Alleghanian deformation in eastern Tennessee with regional dolomitisation of the host rocks occurring as part of a continuum during the 20 Ma prior to and during peak deformation.     

Paleomagnetism in Greece: Indications for relative block movement

There is a difference of 120° between the strike of the Pindos mountain chain and that of the Argolis peninsula. Both consist of rocks of the same age (Triassic Jurassic).Samples were collected to see if paleomagnetic data also exhibited this difference in angle. 23 samples from two sites and four lava strata of the Pindos resulted in normal and reversed directions with a mean direction D = 334°, I = 22° with α_95° = 9°, and 24 samples from four sites of the Argolis peninsula in a mean direction of D = 82°, I = 19° with α_95° = 17°. This is a declination difference of D = 108°. Therefore, a relative rotational block movement with an angle of about 110° could be assumed. The result depends to a great extent on the dip correction of the lava flows.     

Geochronology and paleomagnetism of mafic igneous rocks in the Olenek Uplift, northern Siberia: Implications for Mesoproterozoic supercontinents and paleogeography

We present a new, reliably dated Mesoproterozoic paleopole for Siberia, based on a combined geochronological and paleomagnetic study of mafic rocks within the Mesoproterozoic Sololi Group of the Olenek Uplift in northern Siberia. Ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U–Pb analysis yields crystallisation ages of 2036 ± 11 Ma for zircon from a basement granite and 1473 ± 24 Ma for baddeleyite from a large dolerite sill within the Kyutingde Formation. The baddeleyite result indicates that the lower Sololi Group is significantly older than was suggested by previous K–Ar results. Paleomagnetic analysis of the dolerite sill and related mafic intrusive rocks yields a paleopole at 33.6°N, 253.1°E, A₉₅ = 10.4°. A positive baked-contact test between the Kyutingde sill and sedimentary country rocks shows that the magnetisation is primary. Comparison of this paleopole with coeval results for Laurentia provides a revised reconstruction between Siberia and Laurentia, and implies that these two continents were parts of a single Mesoproterozoic supercontinent since at least 1473 Ma. We argue that Siberia, Laurentia, and Baltica belonged to the same supercontinent between 1473 Ma and mid-Neoproterozoic time.     

Palaeomagnetic results from the ca. 1130 Ma Borgmassivet intrusions in the Ahlmannryggen region of Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, and tectonic implications

Detailed palaeomagnetic and rock magnetic analyses provide improved palaeomagnetic results from 23 sites in the Borgmassivet intrusions in the Ahlmannryggen region of Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica. These intrusions are of similar age to their host, the ca. 1130 Ma Ritscherflya Supergroup (RSG). A mean direction of D=235.4°, I=−7.6° with k=45.9 and α₉₅=4.5° was obtained from this study. When combined with previously reported results from 11 sites in the same region, including sites from the Ritscherflya Supergroup, it gives an overall mean direction for 34 sites from the igneous suite with D=236.5°, I=−3.6°, k=27.9 and α₉₅=4.8°. Isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) experiments on several specimens suggest magnetite or titanomagnetite as the primary remanence carrier, while high temperature magnetic susceptibility experiments indicate the presence of single domain particles. These observations, together with field evidence and the high coercivities and unblocking temperatures, support a primary origin for the observed characteristic remanence. The Borgmassivet palaeomagnetic pole lies at 54.5°E, 8.3°N with A₉₅=3.3°. If Antarctica is moved to its Gondwanan position adjacent to southeast Africa, the Borgmassivet pole (BM) coincides with that of the African well-established, well-dated (1100 Ma) Umkondo Large Igneous Province pole, supporting the hypothesis that the Grunehogna craton of Dronning Maud Land was part of the Kalahari craton of southern Africa at ca. 1100 Ma.     

Mineral assemblages of the Francisco I. Madero Zn–Cu–Pb–(Ag) deposit, Zacatecas, Mexico: Implications for ore deposit genesis

The Francisco I. Madero deposit, central Mexico, occurs in the Mesozoic Guerrero Terrane, which hosts many ore deposits, both Cretaceous (volcanogenic massive sulfides) and Tertiary (epithermal and skarn deposits). It is hosted by a 600 m-thick calcareous-pelitic unit, of Lower Cretaceous age, crosscut by porphyritic dikes that strike NW–SE. A thick felsic volcanic Tertiary sequence, consisting of andesites and rhyolitic ignimbrites, unconformably overlies the Cretaceous series. At the base, the mineralization consists of several mantos developed within calcareous beds. They are dominantly composed of sphalerite, pyrrhotite and pyrite with minor chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite and galena. At the top of the orebody, there are calcic skarns formed through prograde and retrograde stages. The resulting mineral assemblages are rich in manganoan hedenbergite (Hd_75–28Di_40–4Jh_40–20), andraditic garnets (Adr_100–62Grs_38–0), epidote (Ep_95–36Czo_60–5Pie_8–0), chamosite, calcite and quartz. The temperature of ore deposition, estimated by chlorite and arsenopyrite geothermometry, ranges from 243° to 277 °C and from 300° to 340 °C, respectively. The pressure estimated from sphalerite geobarometry averages 2.1 kbar. This value corresponds to a moderately deep skarn and agrees with the high Cu content of the deposit. Paragenesis, P–T conditions and geological characteristics are compatible with a distal, dike-related, Zn skarn deposit. Its style of mineralization is similar to that of many high-temperature carbonate replacement skarn deposits in the Southern Cordillera.     

Fluid flow in the Duperow and Winnepegosis Formations, Williston Basin, Canada: Evidence from preliminary magnetic measurements

The Devonian Winnepegosis and Duperow Formations were examined in well 4-27-11-22W1, located in at the eastern edge of the Williston Basin in Manitoba. The variation in characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) direction and magnetic mineral carrier is obvious: the older Winnepegosis Formation has a primary or early post-depositional magnetization held in magnetite or pyrrhotite (n = 15; D = 324.1°, I = − 27.3°, α₉₅ = 10.4°, k = 15.7), whereas the younger Duperow Formation magnetizations are carried by hematite and could be as late as Early Jurassic. The variability may be attributable to the intervening Prairie Evaporite acting as an aquitard to fluid migration.     

Paleomagnetic data and K–Ar ages from Mesozoic units of the Santa Marta massif: A preliminary interpretation for block rotation and translations

We report 6 K–Ar ages and paleomagnetic data from 28 sites collected in Jurassic, Lower Cretaceous and Paleocene rocks of the Santa Marta massif, to test previous hypothesis of rotations and translations of this massif, whose rock assemblage differs from other basement-cored ranges adjacent to the Guyana margin. Three magnetic components were identified in this study. A first component has a direction parallel to the present magnetic field and was uncovered in all units (D = 352, I = 25.6, k = 57.35, a95 = 5.3, N = 12). A second component was isolated in Cretaceous limestone and Jurassic volcaniclastic rocks (D = 8.8, I = 8.3, k = 24.71, a95 = 13.7, N = 6), and it was interpreted as of Early Cretaceous age. In Jurassic sites with this component, Early Cretaceous K–Ar ages obtained from this and previous studies are interpreted as reset ages. The third component was uncovered in eight sites of Jurassic volcaniclastic rocks, and its direction indicates negative shallow to moderate inclinations and northeastward declinations. K–Ar ages in these sites are of Early (196.5 ± 4.9 Ma) to early Late Jurassic age (156.6 ± 8.9 Ma). Due to local structural complexity and too few Cretaceous outcrops to perform a reliable unconformity test, we only used two sites with (1) K–Ar ages, (2) less structural complexity, and (3) reliable structural data for Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks. The mean direction of the Jurassic component is (D = 20.4, I = −18.2, k = 46.9, a95 = 5.1, n = 18 specimens from two sites). These paleomagnetic data support previous models of northward along-margin translations of Grenvillian-cored massifs. Additionally, clockwise vertical-axis rotation of this massif, with respect to the stable craton, is also documented; the sense of rotation is similar to that proposed for the Perija Range and other ranges of the southern Caribbean margin. More data is needed to confirm the magnitudes of rotations and translations.     

Palaeomagnetic results from the Early Permian Copacabana Group, southern Peru: Implication for Pangaea palaeogeography

Samples collected from folded carbonate rocks of the Early Permian Copacabana Group exposed in the Peruvian Subandean Zone have been subjected to detailed palaeomagnetic analysis. Thermal demagnetisation of most samples yield stable high unblocking temperature directions dominantly carried by titanomagnetite minerals. This remanence, identified in 32 samples (43 specimens), is exclusively of reverse polarity consistent with the Permian–Carboniferous Reversal Superchron (PCRS). The overall directions pass the fold test at the 99% confidence level and are considered as being a pre-folding remanence acquired in Early Permian times. The Copacabana Group yields an overall mean direction of D = 166°, I = +49° (α₉₅ = 4.5°, k = 131.5, N = 9 sites) in stratigraphic coordinates and a corresponding palaeosouth pole position situated at λ = 68°S,  = 321°E (A₉₅ = 5.2°, K = 100). Combining this pole with the coeval high quality data from South America, Africa and Australia results in a mean pole for Gondwana situated at λ = 34.4°S,  = 065.6°E (A₉₅ = 4.9°, K = 73.6, N = 13 studies) in African coordinates. This pole position supports a Pangaea B palaeogeography in Early Permian times. In contrast, the combined pole for Gondwana diverges from the coeval Laurasian mean pole when assuming the Pangaea A-type configuration. Poor quality of the Gondwana dataset and inclination shallowing in sediments seem to play no role in the misfit between the Permian–Triassic poles from Gondwana and Laurasia in Pangaea A reconstruction.     

Paleogeographic evidence on the Jurassic tectonic history of the Pontides: new paleomagnetic data from the Sakarya continent and Eastern Pontides

The Jurassic paleogeographic position of the Pontides is not well studied because of insufficient paleomagnetic data. For this reason, a paleomagnetic study was carried out in order to constrain the paleolatitudinal drift of the Turkish blocks during the Jurassic period. A total of 32 sites were sampled from volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks of the Lower/Middle Jurassic Kelkit formation (Eastern Pontides), Mudurnu formation (Sakarya continent) and Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous Ferhatkaya formation exposed around Amasya region (Eastern Pontides). Rock magnetic experiments demonstrate that the main ferromagnetic mineral is pseudo-single-domain titanomagnetite in these rocks. Paleomagnetic analysis revealed two main components of the natural remanent magnetization during stepwise thermal and alternating field demagnetization. The first component is a low-coercivity (unblocking temperature) component with a direction sometimes similar to that of the earth’s present field or a viscous component. The second component, which is interpreted as the characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) direction, has low to high coercivity properties between 20 and 100 mT or unblocking temperatures between 300 and 580°C. A positive fold test at the 95% level of confidence proved that the ChRM of the sites is primary. Paleomagnetic directions calculated for the Kelkit formation in the Eastern Pontides have a mean direction of D = 334.8°, I = 49.7°, α ₉₅ = 7.1° after tilt-correction. A mean direction of D = 332.2°, I = 48.5°, α ₉₅ = 14.6° was obtained from the volcanoclastic rocks of the Mudurnu formation, and D = 324.3°, I = 43.3°, α ₉₅ = 9.5° was calculated for the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous limestones/Ferhatkaya formation of the Amasya region. The Jurassic rocks in the Eastern Pontides and Mudurnu region are considered to represent products of the rifted Neo-Tethys ocean, while the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous sediments in Amasya are related to basin-filling materials. The data suggest that the Kelkit formation was formed at 30.5°N paleolatitude and the equivalent Mudurnu formation at 29.5°N paleolatitude. The paleolatitude of the Eastern Pontides indicates that this rifting block was separated from Eurasia by a marginal basin instead of being a part of Eurasia. The lower paleolatitude of the Amasya region at 24.8°N in the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous clearly indicates southward drift of the Turkish blocks during the Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous period together with the motion of Eurasia.     

Late Paleozoic remagnetization of the Trenton Formation in Ordovician petroleum reservoirs of southwestern Ontario

A paleomagnetic study of subsurface core samples from dolomitized carbonates of two producing reservoirs in the Upper Ordovician Trenton Formation, collected from four wells in southwestern Ontario yielded a paleomagnetic direction of D = 152.3°, I = − 12.3° (N = 49, α₉₅ = 8.7). This characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) direction was azimuth-corrected by aligning the viscous remanence magnetization (VRM) with the present Earth's magnetic field direction. A drilling-induced magnetization (VRMdi) was present in less than half the specimens sampled in this study. In addition, where the VRM correction could not be made, a paleolatitudinal arc calculated from the inclination-only mean of I = − 9.0° (N = 34, α₉₅ = 3.0°) intersected the apparent polar wander path in the Late Permian–Early Triassic. These paleodirections are similar to the paleomagnetic directions observed in Ordovician Trenton carbonates from the Michigan Basin and New York State, U.S.A., suggesting a related regional late Paleozoic remagnetization.