Palaeomagnetism of a sequence of red beds of the Middle and Upper Sections of Pagnazo Group (Argentina) and the correlation of Upper Palaeozoic-Lower Mesozoic rocks

Palaeomagnetic data from 182 hand samples collected in a rock sequence of about 620-m of red beds of Late Palaeozoic to Early Triassic age exposed in north-western Argentina (30.3° S 67.7° W), are given.
After cleaning, the majority of the Upper Palaeozoic samples (Middle Section of Paganzo Group) show reversed polarity and yield a palaeomagnetic pole at 78° S 249° E (α₉₅= 3°). They also record a polarity transition which we have correlated with the Middle Permian Quebrada del Pimiento Normal Event. The position of the palaeomagnetic pole and the K-Ar age of a basalatic sill at the base of the sequence support this correlation.
Stable remanent magnetization has been isolated in the majority of samples from the Upper Section of the Paganzo Group; it is predominantly reversed and reveals three normal events and also three geomagnetic excursions suggesting an Illawarra Zone age (post Kiaman, Late Tatarian-Early Scythian). The palaeomagnetic pole of the reversely magnetized samples is located at 75° S 285° E(α₉₅= 13°).
The red beds involved in this study are correlated with red beds from the Corumbataí Formation (State of Paraná, Brazil) and with igneous rocks from the Quebrada del Pimiento Formation (Province of Mendoza, Argentina).
The South American Middle and Upper Permian, Upper Permian—Lower Triassic, Lower, Middle and Upper Triassic and Middle Jurassic palaeomagnetic poles reflect a quasistatic period with mean pole at 82° S 244° E, (α₉₅= 4°) which followed the South American Late Palaeozoic polar shift.     

Palaeomagnetism of Palaeozoic ultrabasic rocks from the Sudetes Mts (SW Poland): tectonic implications

A complex palaeomagnetic, rock-magnetic and mineralogical study of ultrabasic rocks from the Sowie Góry Block (GSB) and Jordanów–Gogołów Serpentinite Massif (JGSM) revealed the presence of several components of natural remanent magnetization (NRM). The authors found three groups of Palaeozoic as well as Triassic and Recent components of the geomagnetic field. The Palaeozoic components of NRM are carried mainly by magnetite of several generations formed during several serpentinization episodes. Permo-Carboniferous component (A1) present overall the Sudetes was isolated in one JGSM and two GSB exposures, whereas the Late Devonian–Early Carboniferous component (A2) was found in two exposures from the GSB. The corresponding remanent components were already revealed in palaeontologically dated sediments from other West Sudetic units. In the GSB, it was probably acquired during its unroofing dated isotopically for ca. 370–360 Ma. The newly determined group of Palaeozoic directions (A3) was found in three localities from JGSM and in two from GSB is interpreted as the oldest overprint. In JGSM, it was acquired probably shortly after the first oceanic serpentinization phase dated isotopically for ca. 400 Ma. Its acquisition in GSB corresponds to the time of emplacement of ultrabasic xenoliths dated isotopically at ca. 390 Ma. So we suppose that the mean A3 calculated for five exposures corresponds to the 380–400 Ma time span and that at that period both massifs formed one microplate. Mean inclination of A3 places this microplate at 380–400 Ma at the palaeolatitude of 23°S, whereas the West Sudetes were situated during the Early Devonian at 16°S. We suggest that during the Early Devonian the microplate comprising GSB and JGSM massifs was situated to the south from the West Sudetes and accreted them during Middle–Late Devonian.     

The palaeomagnetism of Jersey volcanics and dykes, and the Lower Palaeozoic apparent polar wander path for Europe

Summary. Stable natural remanent magnetization (NRM) in the Jersey Volcanics and in a single rhyolite dyke was probably acquired during the Cambrian before folding of the volcanics in the Cadomian Orogeny. After dip correction, the volcanics yield a palaeomagnetic pole at 323° E, 52° N ( dp = 33°, dm = 35°). In Jersey dolerite dykes three groups of stable NRM directions are recognized, with palaeomagnetic poles at 248° E, 26° N ( dp = 10°, dm = 20°), 339° E, 1° S ( dp = 9°, dm = 12°), and 336° E, 31° S ( dp = 5°, dm = 9°). Comparison with the European apparent polar wander path implies that stable NRM in these groups was acquired respectively during Late Precambrian or early Cambrian, Siluro-Devonian and middle Carboniferous time. The stable NRM of the Jersey lamprophyre dykes yields a palaeomagnetic pole at 322° E, 16° N ( dp = 31°, dm = 38°) and is probably of Silurian or Devonian age.
These palaeomagnetic poles and other new data determined by the author for the Armorican Massif can be fitted to a common apparent polar wander path for Europe, and this implies that the basement of Lower Palaeozoic Europe extended from the Baltic Shield at least as far south as the Armorican Massif. The Hercynian Orogeny in these parts of Europe was therefore probably intracratonic. This polar wander path implies that in early Cambrian time the pole did not move significantly relative to Europe, but that this was followed by a large middle to late Cambrian polar shift which corresponded to rapid drift of Europe across the South Pole.     

The palaeomagnetism of Cambro-Ordovician redbeds, the Erquy Spilite Series and the Trtégastel-Ploumanac'h granite complex, Armorican Massif (France and the Channel Islands)

Summary. In addition to a component (A) of recent origin, two NRM components are distinguished in the Cambro-Ordovician redbeds of the Armorican Massif. In most sites other than those from northern Brittany the oldest (C) is probably Silurian or early Devonian, and is mainly carried by specularite with high blocking temperatures. This component was variably overprinted by a Devonian or early Carboniferous component (B3) which was probably acquired as a viscous PTRM on uplift after burial, and is carried by hematite pigment with intermediate to high blocking temperatures. In the red succession of Plourivo-Bréhec (northern Brittany) declination scatter of two intermediate to high blocking temperature components (B1 and B2) is consistent with clockwise rotation of the bulk of Europe during the late Carboniferous, implied independently by published European Carboniferous palaeomagnetic data.
Stable NRM in the Erquy Spilite Series yields a palaeomagnetic pole at 344° E, 35° N ( dp = 21°, dm = 22°), and was probably acquired during remagnetization following Late Precambrian or early Cambrian folding. This is consistent with a middle to late Cambrian age of remagnetization estimated by comparison with other poles of known age.
A palaeomagnetic pole position at 332° E, 34° S ( dp = 4°, dm = 7°) determined for the Hercynian Trégastel-Ploumanac'h complex is consistent with other middle to late Carboniferous poles from elsewhere in Europe.     

Palaeomagnetism and K—Ar ages of Lower Ordovician and Upper Silurian—Lower Devonian rocks from north-west Argentina

Summary. In this paper we present palaeomagnetic data from 87 hand samples collected in a sequence of tuffs and shales (Surf Formation) of Llanvirnian age, exposed in north-western Argentina (27° 47' S, 68° 06' W). After cleaning, the majority of samples showed reversed polarity and yielded a palaeomagnetic pole at 5.9° E, 8.5° S (α₉₅= 5.9°). They also showed reversals of declination and inclination at the top of the sequence, which we have associated with geomagnetic excursions. Whole rock K—Ar age de-terminations suggest an age older than 416 ± 25 Myr for the Suri rocks. The predominant reversed stable remanence of these rocks is consistent with the reversed polarity reported for Early Llanvirnian rocks from USSR. The palaeomagnetic pole for the Suri Formation is consistent with the interpretation that Gondwana was a single unit in Early Palaeozoic times.
Palaeomagnetic data from 27 hand samples collected from 10 igneous units of Late Silurian—Early Devonian age (Ñuñorco Formation), exposed in the same area, are also given. The majority of the igneous units showed reversed polarity after cleaning. The positions of VGP's for the Ñuñorco igneous units are scattered and they are not used for geodynamic interpretations. Whole rock K—Ar age determinations suggest ages of 416 ± 25 and 360 ± 10 Myr for two igneous units of the Ñuñorco Formation.     

Palaeomagnetism and magnetostratigraphy of uppermost Permian strata, southeast New Mexico, USA: correlation of the Permian–Triassic boundary in non-marine environments

Continental red sandstone and siltstone rocks of the Dewey Lake (Quartermaster) Formation at Maroon Cliffs, near Carlsbad, New Mexico, are characterized by two components of magnetization with partially overlapping laboratory unblocking temperature spectra. Both magnetizations display high coercivities (>100 mT), probably residing in haematite. A north-directed magnetization with steep positive inclination unblocks between 100 and 650 °C, isolating a predominantly northwest-directed magnetization, with shallow inclination, of near uniform normal polarity and maximum unblocking temperatures of 680 °C.
We collected samples from 24 palaeomagnetic sites (i.e. individual beds) from a ~60 m thick section of flat-lying strata disconformably overlying carbonate and evaporite rocks of the Rustler Formation. The upper member of the Rustler Formation contains a Late Permian (early Changxingian) marine invertebrate and conodont fauna. Of the sampled sites, four yield only steep magnetizations, interpreted to be recent overprints. Eight sites did not yield well-grouped site means and were excluded from the final calculations. The formation mean (dec = 337.7°, inc = 9.2°; k = 31.6, α ₉₅ = 7.8°, N = 12 sites) defines a palaeomagnetic pole located at 55.2°N, 117.5°E, in good agreement with other Late Permian North American cratonic poles.
Correlation of the short polarity sequence of this section of Dewey Lake strata is unambiguous. Compared with the polarity stratigraphy of marine sections in Asia, and supported by isotopic age determinations on a widespread bentonite bed in Dewey Lake strata in west Texas (approximately 251 Ma) and fossil data for the underlying Rustler Formation, the magnetostratigraphy is consistent with deposition of the Dewey Lake Formation during the latest Changxingian (Late Permian) stage.     

New Silurian and Devonian palaeomagnetic results from the Hexi Corridor terrane, northwest China, and their tectonic implications

A total of 239 orientated drill-core samples from 23 sites were collected for palaeomagnetic study from Silurian and Devonian red beds, marlaceous sandstone, and limestone rocks in the eastern part of the Hexi Corridor, southwest Ningxia, North China. The characteristic high-temperature component resides in both haematite and magnetite. It clusters around a northwesterly and shallow to moderate downward direction and its antipode after tilt correction. The primary origin of this characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) is ascertained by positive fold and reversal tests at the 95 per cent confidence level. The corresponding palaeopoles, at 339.0°E, 60.1°N with A ₉₅ = 11.2° (Silurian) and 336.0°E, 56.0°N with A ₉₅ = 9.2° (Devonian), imply that the North China Block (NCB) had a low palaeolatitude of around 15°N in the Northern Hemisphere during the Silurian–Devonian period. Comparison with the Early–Middle Ordovician palaeopole of the NCB suggests that the NCB moved rapidly northwards by 30.8° ± 10.9° to cross the palaeo-equator during the Early–Middle Ordovician to Silurian. In combination with the palaeobiogeographical data from Ningxia, our palaeomagnetic results suggest that the NCB was located close to Australia during the Late Devonian.     

Multiphase cooling and exhumation of the southern Adelaide Fold Belt: constraints from apatite fission track data

Data from apatite fission track analysis are presented for 20 outcrop samples collected in the southern Adelaide Fold Belt, South Australia. Interpretation of these data, with the aid of numerical models which allow inference of multiphase cooling histories, indicate three discrete cooling events that are likely to correlate with sedimentation events in surrounding depositional settings. An event beginning some time after 85 Ma (Late Cretaceous) was characterized by cooling throughout the study area from temperatures of roughly 50 to 70 °C. An event beginning at 300–270 Ma (Late Palaeozoic) was characterized by cooling from temperatures >120 °C in all areas except for the Mount Lofty Ranges and Murray Bridge region, where peak temperatures were only 95–115 °C prior to Palaeozoic cooling. Some samples from these subregions of relatively cool Late Palaeozoic temperatures also retain evidence for even earlier cooling from temperatures >120 °C, beginning prior to 350 Ma. We interpret the post 85-Ma event as the consequence of regional exhumation from a depth of 1.0–1.6 km. The Late Palaeozoic event (300–270 Ma) is interpreted as cooling associated with the termination of the Alice Springs Orogeny, while cooling prior to 350 Ma probably represents the final stages of Early Middle Palaeozoic unroofing of the southern Adelaide Fold Belt.
The results highlight the importance of regional, episodic postorogenic exhumation of Palaeozoic fold belts, where – in some cases – conventional methods have erroneously suggested relatively long-term stability.     

Palaeomagnetism of the Permian Volcanic Rocks of Moissey (French Jura): Implications For the Palaeofield and Tectonic Evolution

Rocks from the Massif de la Serre in the French Jura (latitude: 47.3°N longitude: 5.6°E) belonging to an ignimbritic assemblage dominated by vitrophyric rhyolites, and whose age of formation is probably Permian (Autunian to Saxonian) have been studied by applying thermal and alternating field demagnetization. the characteristic magnetization has a mean direction derived from 89 samples of D= 170°, I = - 16°, k = 26.2°, α₉₅= 3° and a corresponding north palaeopole at 41°N, 172°E, A ₉₅= 5°. the pole, which is very close to the Permian European poles, can thus be considered as a new contribution. Some samples are found to carry a unique normal polarity magnetization, others carry both normal and reverse polarities. It therefore seems that, similar to Permian series in the USSR, these west European rocks have registered a normal event in the Kiaman interval. From a structural point of view, we may conclude that during the Alpine tectonic phases the Massif de la Serre has not been subjected to substantial rotation.     

Palaeomagnetism of the Lower Ordovician Orthoceras Limestone, St. Petersburg, and a revised drift history for Baltica in the early Palaeozoic

Palaeomagnetic investigation of Lower Ordovician limestone in the vicinity of St. Petersburg yields a pole position at latitude 34.7°N, longitude 59.1°E ( dp / dm =5.7°/6.4°). A probable primary remanence origin is supported by the presence of a field reversal. The limestone carries one other remanent magnetization component associated with a Mesozoic remagnetization event.
An apparent polar wander path is compiled for Baltica including the new result, ranging in age from Vendian to Cretaceous. Ages of the published Lower to mid-Palaeozoic palaeomagnetic pole positions are adjusted in accordance with the timescale of Tucker & McKerrow (1995). The new Arenig result is the oldest of a series of Ordovician and Silurian palaeomagnetic pole positions from limestones in the Baltic region. There are no data to constrain apparent polar wander for the Tremadoc, Cambrian and latest Vendian. If the Fen Complex results, previously taken to be Vendian in age ( c . 565 Ma), are reinterpreted as Permian remagnetizations, an Early Ordovician–Cambrian–Vendian cusp in the polar wander path for Baltica is eliminated. The apparent polar wander curve might then traverse directly from poles for Vendian dykes on the Kola peninsula ( c . 580 Ma) towards our new Arenig pole ( c . 480 Ma). The consequence of this change in terms of the motion of Baltica in Cambrian times is to reduce significantly a rotational component of movement.
The new Arenig pole extends knowledge of Ordovician apparent polar wander an increment back in time and confirms the palaeolatitude and orientation of Baltica in some published palaeogeographies. Exclusion of the Fen Complex result places Baltica in mid- to high southerly latitudes at the dawn of the Palaeozoic, consistent with faunal and sedimentological evidence but at variance with some earlier palaeomagnetic reconstructions.     

Palaeomagnetism of the Ordovician dolerites of the Crozon Peninsula (France)

Summary. In order to obtain a Lower Palaeozoic pole for the Armorican Massif and to test the origin of the Ibero-Armorican arc, the Ordovician dolerites of the Crozon peninsula have been palaeomagnetically studied. The samples show a multicomponent magnetization which has been revealed by AF and thermal demagnetization and thoroughly investigated with rock magnetic experiments, polished section examinations and K/Ar dating. Four groups of directions have been recognized, often superimposed on each other in an individual sample. One component (D) has always the lowest blocking temperatures and coercivities and is considered to be of viscous origin, acquired recently in situ or in the laboratory during storage. Two components (A and B) are interpreted to be of secondary origin and to correspond to the observed K/Ar age distribution between 300 and 190 Myr. These ages represent the time interval between two regional thermo-tectonic events, associated with the Hercynian orogeny and the intrusion of dykes related to the early opening of the Central Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay. A fourth component (C) could be of Ordovician or younger Palaeozoic age; it is not clear whether the age of the magnetization is pre- or post-folding, but a pre-folding age would yield a direction of magnetization similar to Ordovician results from the Iberian peninsula. The latter interpretation suggests a fairly high palaeolatitude, which is in agreement with a glacio-marine postulated for sediments overlying the dolerite sills.     

Palaeomagnetism and K—Ar age of the Upper Ordovician Alcaparrosa Formation, Argentina

Summary. Palaeomagnetic data from 71 hand samples of igneous rocks of Late Ordovician age exposed in western Argentina (31.3°S, 69.4°W, Alcaparrosa Formation) are given. Stable remanent magnetization was isolated in the majority of samples; they yield a palaeomagnetic pole at 56°S 33°E ( N = 8, α₉₅= 16°). Whole rock K-Ar age determinations yield an age of 416 ± 10 Myr for a pillow lava of the Alcaparrosa Formation.
Palaeomagnetic data for South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica and India suggest that Gondwana was a unit at least as far back as 1000 Myr. The palaeomagnetic data define a rapid polar migration for Gondwana in Ordovician time which is consistent with the widespread occurrences of Late Ordovician glacial deposits across this supercontinent.     

南极洲泥盆系概况及其与中国泥盆系之比较

南极洲的泥盆系主要分布于横贯南极山脉的麦克默多和俄亥俄岭－埃尔斯沃思山等两个沉积盆地中。前一个盆地的泥盆系代表从海岸泻湖－河流三角洲到近岸冲积平原的层序；后一个盆地的彭萨科拉山的泥盆系较厚，从非海相冲积扇－冲积平原－浅海相，最后又恢复到非海相沉积环境，但在俄亥俄岭却沉积了厚度不大的浅海相地层，含Ｍａｌｖｉｎｏｋａｆｒｉｃ生物地理大区的海相双壳类、腹足类、三叶虫、竹节石和鱼类等化石。除了上述两个沉积盆地外，在罗斯海两边却出露了火山岩，说明该地当时处于俯冲带附近的火山弧中。中国华南的曲靖型和西北的祁连山型泥盆系也属于滨海相和非海相沉积，它们与南极洲的泥盆系可资比较，但两者的生物地理区系并不相同     

Palaeomagnetism of the teschenitic rocks (Lower Cretaceous) in the Outer Western Carpathians of Poland: constraints for tectonic rotations in the Silesian unit

Results of palaeomagnetic investigations of the Lower Cretaceous teschenitic rocks in the Silesian unit of the Outer Western Carpathians in Poland bring evidence for pre-folding magnetization of these rocks. The mixed-polarity component reveals inclinations, between 56° and 69°, which might be either of Cretaceous or Tertiary age. Apparently positive results of fold and contact tests in some localities and presence of pyrhotite in the contact aureole suggest that magnetization is primary, although a Neogene or earlier remagnetization cannot be totally excluded since inclination-only test between localities gives 'syn-folding' results. Higher palaeoinclinations (66°–69°) correlate with a younger variety of teschenitic rocks dated for 122–120 Ma, while lower inclinations (56°–60°) with an older variety (138–133 Ma). This would support relatively high palaeolatitudes for the southern margin of the Eurasian plate in the late part of the Early Cretaceous and relatively quick northward drift of the plate in this epoch, together with the Silesian basin at its southern margin. Declinations are similar to the Cretaceous–Tertiary palaeodeclinations of stable Europe in the eastern part of the studied area but rotated ca. 14°–70° counter-clockwise in the western part. This indicates, together with older results from Czech and Slovakian sectors of the Silesian unit, a change in the rotation pattern from counter-clockwise to clockwise at the meridian of 19°E. The rotations took place before the final collision of the Outer Carpathians nappe stack with the European foreland.     

Pdaeomagnetic survey of the (Palaeozoic) Shelve inlier and Berwyn Hills, Welsh Borderlands

summary . This study completes palaeomagnetic coverage of Lower Palaeozoic igneous rocks within the Welsh Borderlands, and includes data from Ordovician (Llanvirn and Caradoc) volcanics yielding positive fold tests and palaeomagnetic poles in agreement with other British Ordovician studies. A wide range of Late Ordovician-Lower Silurian (Llandovery) intrusions yield directions of magnetization unlike any previously identified from Lower Palaeozoic rocks of Britain, but highly stable to thermal and af demagnetization, and include a reversal of magnetization. The collective results define a large movement relative to the dipole axis over a period of less than 10 Ma between c .445 and 425 Ma; part of this movement can be explained in terms of complex rotations of the British region during late Ordovician and early Silurian tectonism within the paratectonic Caledonides.     

A palaeomagnetic study of fracture fills in the Holy Cross Mountains of Central Poland and its application in dating tectonic processes

Calcite and sedimentary fills in fractures cutting the Upper Devonian carbonates in the Holy Cross Mountains (HCM) were dated palaeomagnetically by comparison with the apparent polar wander path (APWP). Haematite-bearing calcite possessed well-defined components of natural remanent magnetization (NRM), which were preserved under thermal demagnetization to temperatures of approximately 500 °C, when specimens disintegrated. Although not completely demagnetized, some specimens revealed a stable NRM component before destruction, thus making a component analysis possible. Five components were determined using density point distribution and cluster analysis. One has a mean that is similar to the present-day local geomagnetic vector. The remaining four components yielded palaeomagnetic poles located at: A (70.3°S, 5.5°E), B (71.3°S, 31.2°E), C (48.7°S, 351.0°E, virtual geomagnetic pole), and D (11.6°S, 312.3°E). Antipodal polarities found in the fracture fills, together with dissimilarities in magnetization found in calcite and hosting carbonates, indicate the lack of simultaneous remagnetization, and different times of remanence acquisition for the rocks under comparison. Taking both palaeomagnetically inferred palaeolatitudes and regional tectonics into consideration, a Mesozoic (Cretaceous?) age is estimated for palaeopoles A and B, a Permian age for pole C, and a Carboniferous age for pole D. These age determinations are in line with the calcite ages estimated from isotopic studies. A comparative palaeomagnetic study performed on a well-dated Upper Devonian neptunian dyke of limestone and a Lower Triassic clastic vein yielded virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs) close to the APWP for Baltica. Generally, the remanence from fracture fills may be useful for dating related tectonics, karst phenomena and mineralization processes.     

Clockwise rotations recorded in Early Cretaceous rocks of South Korea: implications for tectonic affinity between the Korean Peninsula and North China

Recent interest has focused on whether South Korea may have undergone variable tectonic rotations since the Cretaceous. In an effort to contribute to the answer to this question, we have completed a palaeomagnetic reconnaissance study of Early Cretaceous sedimentary and igneous rocks from the Kyongsang basin in southeast Korea. Stepwise thermal demagnetization isolated well-defined characteristic magnetization in all samples. The palaeomagnetic directions reveal patterns of increasing amounts of clockwise (CW) rotation with increasing age for Aptian rock units. Palaeomagnetic declinations indicate clockwise vertical-axis rotations of R = 34.3° ± 6.9° for the early Aptian rock unit, R = 24.9° ± 10.6° for the middle Aptian, and R = −0.9° ± 11.8° for the late Aptian relative to eastern Asia. The new Cretaceous palaeomagnetic data from this study are consistent with the hypothesis that Korea and other major parts of eastern Asia occupied the same relative positions in terms of palaeolatitudes in the Cretaceous. An analysis of and comparison with previously reported palaeomagnetic data corroborates this hypothesis and suggests that much of Korea may have been connected to the North China Block since the early Palaeozoic. A plausible cause of the rotation is the westward subduction of the Kula plate underneath the Asian continent, which is inferred to have occurred during the Cretaceous according to several geological and tectonic analyses.     

Palaeomagnetism of some Late Cretaceous and Miocene igneous rocks on Jamaica

Summary. In order to contribute to the resolution of the problem of the plate tectonic character of the Caribbean, a palaeomagnetic study has been carried out on some Jamaican igneous rocks. Sixteen Late Cretaceous intrusives and lavas and one Late Miocene lava sampled in five sites have been investigated. Because of widespread maghaemitization of the predominantly large-grained deuteric class 1 titanomagnetites, some difficulty was experienced in identifying stable directions of magnetization in the Cretaceous rock units. Using thermal demagnetization technique, two distinct directions of magnetization were obtained, significantly different from those observed in contemporaneous North American rocks. Nine units yield a palaeomagnetic pole at 143.8°W, 44.1°N, referred to as 'normal', while seven units yield'equatorial'poles situated both east and west of Jamaica. It is not possible to decide which of the two directions of magnetization reflects the Late Cretaceous geomagnetic field in Jamaica, but from other evidence they appear to merit palaeotectonic interpretation. They are consistent with the plate tectonic behaviour of the Caribbean since Late Cretaceous and its motion from the southwest relative to the present day frame of reference, with a simultaneous large anticlockwise horizontal rotation of Jamaica. Late Miocene lavas, containing high-coercivity magnetic material, yield closely grouped directions giving a palaeopole at 152.4°W, 73.3°N, supporting the deductions made from the Cretaceous data.     

Palaeomagnetic constraints on the age of deformation of the Sierras Australes thrust and fold belt, Argentina

A palaeomagnetic study has been carried out on late Palaeozoic rocks exposed in the Sierras Australes thrust and fold belt of Buenos Aires province (Argentina), in the early Permian red sandstones and clay siltstones of the Tunas Formation. The sections sampled are exposed in the eastern parts of the belt, in Sierra de las Tunas (north) and Sierra de Pillahuincó (south). More than 300 specimens were collected from 25 sites, in three localities with different structural attitudes. Demagnetization at high temperatures isolated a characteristic remanence at 20 sites. All the localities have a reverse characteristic remanence, suggesting that the magnetization was acquired during the Kiaman interval. Stepwise tectonic tilt correction suggests that the Tunas Formation in these localities acquired its magnetization during folding in early Permian times. Palaeomagnetic poles were computed for each locality based on partial tilt-corrected remanence directions. Taking into account the fact that these localities are close to one another and that the rocks are all of reverse polarity, a group syntectonic palaeomagnetic pole called Tunas was calculated: longitude: 13.9°E, latitude: 63.0°S; A ₉₅ = 5.4°, K = 39.7, N = 19. This pole is consistent with previously calculated poles from South America assigned to the early Permian. In age it corresponds to the early Permian San Rafaelic tectonic phase of the Sierras Australes. Independent geological evidence indicates that the Tunas Formation underwent syndepositional deformation. We conclude that the Tunas Formation was deposited, deformed and remagnetized, all during the early Permian.     

Post-tectonic magnetizations from the Cordova gabbro, Ontario and Palaeozoic reactivation in the Grenville Province

Summary. The Cordova gabbro of southern Ontario intrudes 1300 Myr old volcanic rocks of the Hastings Lowlands in the Grenville Structural Province. Three distinct vector magnetizations (A, B and C) have been isolated, using a combination of stable endpoints, subtracted vectors from orthogonal vector plots and converging remagnetization circles. The A magnetization, with mean direction D = 294° I =– 55.5° ( k = 42, α₉₅= 5.5°, N = 18 sites), is a high coercivity, high blocking temperature remanence recorded by 49 samples. The B magnetization was isolated in 33 samples and has a mean direction D = 305.5° I =– 1.5° ( k = 24, α₉₅, N = 11 sites). B has lower coercivities and blocking temperatures than A where the two are superimposed. The A and B palaeopoles, 151°E, 10.5°S ( dp = 6°, dm = 8°) and 165.5°E, 24°N ( dp = 5°, dm = 9.5°), fall on the Grenville Track around 900 and 820 Ma respectively. The A and B magnetizations thus date from uplift and cooling following the Grenvillian orogeny. The third magnetization, the C component, has been isolated in 23 samples. Its mean direction is D = 180° I = 27.5° ( k = 18, α₉₅= 10.5°, N = 12 sites). The C is a low coercivity, low blocking temperature overprint of A and B. Its palaeopole, 102°E, 31°N ( dp = 6.5°, dm = 12°), is unlike post-1300 Precambrian poles for cratonic North America but matches Silurian and late Ordovician poles. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of 446 and 447 Ma determined by Lopez-Martinez and York for plagioclases from one of the Cordova samples confirm this age assignment. The C magnetization therefore records a previously unrecognized mild thermal or hydrothermal event that occurred in Palaeozoic time, long after the Grenvillian orogeny.