Palaeomagnetic study of an allochthonous terraine: the Scisti Silicei Formation, Lagonegro Basin, southern Italy

Summary. The Jurassic Scisti Silicei Formation forms part of the Lagonegro superimposed tectonic units I and II that are thought to represent the axial and internal margins of the Mesozoic Lagonegro Basin, prior to nappe formation. Sampling was carried out in the lower (Lagonegro) and upper (Pignola) nappes in two differently oriented anticlines. Single and multi-component magnetizations are present. Isothermal remanence acquisition rates show that magnetite and haematite are present which, in most Lagonegro specimens, show the same direction of magnetization. Comparison of the palaeomagnetic directions with those from Jurassic rocks on the stable African craton indicates a 147° anticlockwise rotation of the lower nappe which is similar to 139° previously reported for the upper nappe at Vietri di Potenza. The same comparisons show a 44° clockwise rotation of the upper nappe at Pignola. These results suggest that the doubled nappe structures, sampled some 50 km apart, resulted from their emplacement by translation with little rotation prior to the opening of the Tyrrhenian Sea and that it was the opening of this Sea that caused the predominantly anticlockwise rotation. This work therefore indicates the way in which palaeomagnetic analyses can be used, even within complex allochthonous areas, as an aid to deciphering their tectonic evolution.     

Spatial Distribution of Meso-Scale Precipitation in Scania, Southern Sweden

The aim of this study is to analyse the spatial variability of meso‐scale precipitation in Scania and to assess the influence of synoptic scale atmospheric circulation. The modes of spatial variation are revealed by EOF analysis of monthly precipitation totals between 1963 and 1990, which were obtained from a dense rain‐gauge network in Scania, southern Sweden. The influence of local physiography on the spatial distribution of precipitation is assessed by GIS techniques using a digital elevation model of Scania. The relation to synoptic scale atmospheric circulation is analysed using regional circulation indices and weather types. It is shown that the daily precipitation distribution in the area is significantly influenced by synoptic scale pressure patterns. Nevertheless, the covariability of the monthly precipitation within Scania is high. About 80% of the precipitation variability is connected to the passage of low‐pressure centres over or close to the region, which are likely to produce precipitation over the whole area. A wind‐direction dependency found in the distribution indicates that there might be a limit between precipitation regimes within the landscape. Topography greatly influences the spatial distribution in Scania. The distribution of land and surrounding sea is also an important factor and makes the relationship between physiography and precipitation rather complex. The physiographical effects vary over a single year. The dampening effect of the sea on the atmospheric temperature influences the local stability in coastal areas and results in seasonally dependent precipitation patterns.     

The Accumulation of Palaeomagnetic Results From Multicomponent Analyses

Summary. In palaeomagnetic studies the analysis of multicomponent magnetizations has evolved from the eye-ball, orthogonal plot, and vector difference methods to the more elaborate computer-based methods such as principle component analysis (PCA), linearity spectrum analysis (LSA), and the recent package called LINEFIND. the errors involved in estimating a particular direction in a multicomponent system from a single specimen are fundamental to PCA, LSA, and LINEFIND, yet these errors are not used in estimating an overall direction from a number of observations of a particular component (other than in some acceptance or rejection criterion). the distribution of errors relates very simply to a Fisher distribution, and so these errors may be included fairly naturally in the overall analysis. In the absence of a rigorous theory to cover all situations, we consider here approximate methods for the use of these errors in estimating overall directions and cones of confidence. Some examples are presented to demonstrate the application of these methods.     

Palaeomagnetic study of Palaeoproterozoic granitoids from the Voronezh Massif, Russia

A palaeomagnetic investigation has been carried out of rocks from the eastern part of the Voronezh Massif, which constitutes, together with the Ukrainian Shield, the Sarmatian segment in the southern part of the East European Craton. The samples were collected in a quarry close to the town of Pavlovsk (50.4°N, 40.1°E), where a syenitic-granitic body intrudes Archaean units. U–Pb (zircon) dating has yielded an age of 2080  Ma for the intrusion.
  Two characteristic magnetic components, A and B, were isolated by thermal and alternating-field demagnetization. Component A was obtained from granites and quartz syenites (11 samples) and has a mean direction of D = 229°, I = 28°, and a pole position at 12°N, 172°E. This pole is close to a contemporary mean pole (9°N, 187°E) for the Ukrainian Shield, which implies that the Voronezh Massif and the Shield constituted a single entity at 2.06  Ga. These poles differ from contemporaneous poles of the Fennoscandian Shield, indicating that the relative positions of the two shields were different from their present configuration about 2100  Myr ago.
  A component B, isolated only in quartz monzonites (five samples), has a mean direction D = 144°, I = 49°, and a pole position at 4°N, 251°E, which is close to late Sveconorwegian (approximately 900  Ma) poles for Baltica. This suggests that the East European Craton was consolidated some time between 2080 and 900  Ma. Comparison with other palaeomagnetic data permit us to narrow this time span to 1770–1340  Ma.     

Estimating monthly surface winds for Scania, southern Sweden, using geostrophic wind (1899–1997)

Wind direction conditions during the 20th century in Scania, southern Sweden, are investigated using an estimated series of monthly wind vector components (east–west u component and north–south v component). The series is developed from a regression relationship between pairwise (1973 to 1997) monthly averages of 10–m surface wind from Scania and a monthly geostrophic wind, based on mean sea level (MSL) pressure data from the National Center of Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The wind conditions during the 20th century are dominated by winds from southwesterly and westerly directions, particularly during summer and autumn. From the 1980s onwards, increased frequencies of westerly winds are evident in spring and summer; however, similarly large frequencies of westerly winds are also found during the early part of the 20th century. Analysis of the estimated wind series indicates large variation in wind direction during the investigated time period, particularly during 1930 to 1960 when large increases of easterly winds are evident in spring. Increased frequencies of easterly winds were also found in other months during this period but not to the same extent as during the spring season. Thus, the presence of periods with quite different wind characteristics suggests that the overall atmospheric circulation has experienced some shifts in this region during the 20th century.     

Palaeomagnetism of 935 Ma mafic dykes in southern Sweden and implications for the Sveconorwegian Loop

New palaeomagnetic results for the 935 Ma Göteborg-Slussen mafic dykes in southern Sweden provide a well-dated high-quality palaeomagnetic pole for Early Neoproterozoic Baltica. New U-Pb geochronological data for several palaeomagnetically studied mafic intrusions yield three additional well-dated palaeopoles and one virtual geomagnetic pole. This set of dated poles suggests minimal drift of Baltica in moderate latitudes between ∼965 and 915 Ma. They also support the hypothesis of a post-900 Ma regional remagnetization event in SW Sweden and SW Norway. The positions of three distinct clusters of ∼1100 to 850 Ma palaeopoles suggest a clockwise time progression of the Baltica apparent polar wander path (the Sveconorwegian Loop) during this time interval. New well-dated palaeomagnetic poles for ∼970 to 900 Ma from Laurentia are required to verify the palaeogeographic reconstructions of Baltica and Laurentia.     

Palaeomagnetic and geochronological results from the Cambro-Ordovician Granite Harbour Intrusives inland of Terra Nova Bay (Victoria Land, Antarctica)

Palaeomagnetic investigations and Rb–Sr dating were carried out on samples from two plutons from the Granite Harbour Intrusives of the Transantarctic Mountains inland of Terra Nova Bay. The Rb–Sr whole rock–biotite ages from Teall Nunatak (475±4, 483±4 Ma), a quartz-diorite pluton cropping out to the south of Priestley Glacier, are older than that from the Mount Keinath monzogranite (450±4 Ma), which is located to the north of the glacier. These results are consistent with the literature data, which suggest that during the last phases of the Ross Orogeny the cooling rate of the basement was significantly lower to the north than to the south of Priestley Glacier. The Teall Nunatak quartz-diorite is characterized by a stable magnetization, whose blocking-temperature spectrum ranges from 530 to 570 °C. At one site, the stable magnetization is screened by a large secondary component of opposite polarity, removed by thermal demagnetization below 300 °C. The characteristic directions after thermal demagnetization yielded a southern pole located at lat. 11°S, long. 21°E. The magnetization of Mount Keinath monzogranite consists of several components with overlapping stability spectra. A characteristic direction was isolated at one site only, obtained by demagnetizing the specimens in the temperature range from 380 to 460 °C.
  Comparison with the other East Antarctica poles shows that those from Victoria Land are very well grouped and give a reliable early Ordovician palaeopole (lat. 5°S, long. 23°E, with K =196 and A ₉₅=3.7°), whereas the poles from Wilkes, Enderby and Dronning Maud Land are dispersed. We tentatively advance the hypothesis that the dispersion reflects different magnetization ages due to the slow cooling of these regions during the last stages of the Ross Orogeny.     

Palaeomagnetic directions (223-1.4 ka) recorded in the volcanites of Lipari, Aeolian Islands

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The island of Lipari is formed by Pleistocene volcanites emplaced during four main periods of volcanic activity. A study has been made of their magnetic properties, primarily with the aim of determining changes in the palaeomagnetic directions. Titanomagnetite is always the primary ferromagnetic mineral and its magnetic characteristics are common to the various lithotypes. However, the concentration of titanomagnetite and the degree of magnetic anisotropy vary systematically and correlate with the types of magma (basalt-andesite in the first and second volcanic periods; rhyolite in the third and fourth periods). All palaeomagnetic directions are of normal polarity (Brunhes epoch). Their mean overall palaeomagnetic pole (86N, 238E; dp = 5, dm = 6) is statistically indistinguishable from the geographic pole.
The variations in declination and inclination with age, however, are marked by some evidence of a discontinuity between 150 ± 10 and 127 ± 8 ka. This age can be correlated with the beginning of the Blake event of reverse polarity. The discontinuity might therefore correspond to magnetic excursions which occurred immediately before.     

Palaeomagnetic studies in the Permian Basin of Largentière and implications for the Late Variscan rotations in the French Massif Central

Detailed geological observations and palaeomagnetic analyses were carried out in the Largentière Stephano–Autunian basin and on the Stephanian deposits of the Alès coalfield, both located at the southeastern margin of the French Massif Central. Because of unfavourable rock types, the Alès Stephanian deposits did not yield any results. The palaeomagnetic pole (164.9°E, 45.4°N, K = 89, A ₉₅ = 4.1°) deduced from a study of the Autunian sediments of the Largentière Basin agrees very well with the reference pole for stable Europe. The Lodève–Largentière area, that is the southeastern border of the Massif Central, has been stable since Early Permian time with respect to stable Europe, whereas the western part (the Saint-Affrique Rodez Basin and, probably, the Brive Basin) has been rotated counterclockwise.