Tectonic implications of paleomagnetic research into Upper Cretaceous magmatic rocks in the Apuseni Mountains, Romania

The paleomagnetism of Upper Cretaceous magmatic rocks from 47 collecting sites (172 samples, 692 specimens) in the Apuseni Mountains was studied. After AF cleaning, characteristic magnetizations were identified for various collecting areas in the study zone, which defined a few spatial and temporal units for which paleomagnetic poles could be derived statistically. At 21 sampling sites the paleomagnetic directions showed a high level of intrasite and intersite consistency, with a mean direction of I_f = −38° and D_f = −100°, with ₉₅ = 6°. The paleomagnetic results show that to reach their present-day position the Apuseni Mountains moved to the north, around 14° with respect to Europe, or around 25° with respect to the geographic poles, between the Campanian and, probably, Late Miocene, while a clockwise rotation, of around 80°, was taking place.