Quaternary magnetostratigraphy in Denmark

Magnetostratigraphical results from various historical, Holocene, Lateglacial and Glacial deposits from Central Jutland, Vendsyssel, the Baltic Sea and Schleswig-Holstein are illustrated and discussed. Although only a few archaeomagnetic case studies have yet been made in Denmark, magnetic datings with accuracies of about ±50 years have been obtained on mediaeval kilns by comparing with a dipole transformed modification of the British archaeomagnetic master curve. Furthermore, a study of the expected east–west orientation of some 330 Romanesque churches in Denmark seem to indicate that about 25% of these churches were magnetically orientated; thus some kind of a magnetic compass may have been in common use in the twelfth century in Denmark. Radiocarbon-dated Holocene lake sediments from lake Skanderborg reveal a distinct pattern of magnetic secular variation with fairly short time constants, which may be useful in magnetostratigraphical correlations of other lake sediments. Also Lateglacial and Early Postglacial sediments from the southern Baltic Sea show systematical magnetic patterns, whereas glacial boulder clay at the bottom shows disturbed directions, obviously moulded by the moving ice. Lateglacial Younger Yoldia clay from North Jutland shows well-developed short periodic swings as well as an extreme declination variation of some 80° to 90°, the so-called 'Nørre Lyngby declination excursion' around 14,000 B.P. A sequence of Older Yoldia clay at the same site furthermore shows significantly low inclination values, the so-called 'Rubjerg low inclination excursion' of an age between 23,000 B.P. and 40,000 B.P. Finally, a well-clustering palaeomagnetic direction from a Weichselian glacial boulder clay from Timmerhorn north of Hamburg is discussed from a hierarchical, statistical point of view.     

Rock‐Magnetic and Archaeointensity Investigation of Pottery and a Burned Floor at the Tzintzuntzan Archaeological Site,Western Mexico

We report a detailed rock‐magnetic and archaeointensity analysis of four pottery fragments and a burned floor recovered from the Tzintzuntzan archaeological site in western Mexico. Results from rock‐magnetic experiments (x‐T curves and first‐order reversal curves [FORC] diagrams) indicate the suitability of most of these materials as faithful geomagnetic field recorders. Potsherds were archaeomagnetically dated by comparing their mean intensity values against the paleosecular variation curve CALS3k, suggesting A.D. 600–941 as the most probable age range. This is younger than ¹⁴C‐dated charcoal from the same burned floor (A.D. 1294–1426). More precise age estimates will require the use of the full geomagnetic vector (declination, inclination, and intensity). Multiple reheatings of the ceramic pieces, evidenced as secondary components in Zijderveld plots, could reflect multiple heating of these objects, perhaps from use as incense burners. Our study demonstrates the potential of archaeomagnetic analysis to both date burned ceramics recovered in situ and provide insight into their use‐history.     

High-resolution chronology for the Mesoamerican urban center of Teotihuacan derived from Bayesian statistics of radiocarbon and archaeological data

A high-resolution ¹⁴C chronology for the Teopancazco archaeological site in the Teotihuacan urban center of Mesoamerica was generated by Bayesian analysis of 33 radiocarbon dates and detailed archaeological information related to occupation stratigraphy, pottery and archaeomagnetic dates. The calibrated intervals obtained using the Bayesian model are up to ca. 70% shorter than those obtained with individual calibrations. For some samples, this is a consequence of plateaus in the part of the calibration curve covered by the sample dates (2500 to 1450 ¹⁴C yr BP). Effects of outliers are explored by comparing the results from a Bayesian model that incorporates radiocarbon data for two outlier samples with the same model excluding them. The effect of outliers was more significant than expected. Inclusion of radiocarbon dates from two altered contexts, 500 ¹⁴C yr earlier than those for the first occupational phase, results in ages calculated by the model earlier than the archaeological records. The Bayesian chronology excluding these outliers separates the first two Teopancazco occupational phases and suggests that ending of the Xolalpan phase was around cal AD 550, 100 yr earlier than previously estimated and in accordance with previously reported archaeomagnetic dates from lime plasters for the same site.     

Age of the peel sandstone group,isle of man

An Early Devonian age for the continental, red‐bed succession of the Peel Sandstone Group can be defined on the basis of: (1) a derived marine fauna of late Wenlock (Homerian) age, (2) a Scoyenia ichnofacies assemblage (including Beaconites and Diplichnites) characteristic of latest Silurian to Early Devonian (Lower Old Red Sandstone magnafacies) sediments in the British Isles, (3) a microflora of late Lochkovian to Pragian age, (4) a detrital palaeomagnetic remanence that pre‐dates local, Acadian palaeomagnetic directions and coincides with a prominent, southerly, Late Silurian to Early Devonian excursion in the local apparent polar wander path, and (5) a mid‐Devonian palaeomagnetic remanence that overprints (?)Acadian, thrust‐related folding. Data presented in this study confirm previous suggestions (Allen and Crowley 1983) that the Peel Sandstone Group represents a rare example of Early Devonian sedimentation preserved on the northern margin of the former Eastern Avalonia microcontinent. Potential correlations and linkages with other Lower Old Red Sandstone successions exposed in the Anglo‐Welsh Basin are developed and discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Palaeomagnetic correlation and dating of Plio/Pleistocene sediments at the southern margins of the North Sea Basin

A series of discontinuous sediment sequences, of Plio/Pleistocene age, occur onshore around the southern North Sea margins, notably in the East Anglian region of Britain. Intensive lithological and palaeontological analyses of these sediments have shown that they record both major and minor oscillations in climate, sea level and environmental conditions. However, significant uncertainties exist regarding the absolute and relative chronostratigraphies of many of these sequences, hindering understanding of the relative impacts of climatic, eustatic and tectonic changes on the palaeogeographic development of the southern North Sea basin. Here, a number of key East Anglian Plio/Pleistocene sites are subjected to robust palaeomagnetic and mineralogical examination, in order to determine those sediments which display reliable, syn‐depositional magnetic polarities, which are thus of use in ascribing a palaeomagnetically determined age from comparison with the Geomagnetic Polarity Timescale (GPTS). Based on a range of palaeomagnetic and complementary mineralogical methods, reliable palaeomagnetic directions were obtained from eight sites, with reversed polarities displayed by sediments from three sites. These polarity determinations can be used to infer absolute ages and test published, between‐site correlations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Over how much time should the geomagnetic field be averaged to obtain the mean-palaeomagnetic field?

Average geomagnetic field models are now available over six orders of magnitude in time. Models based on Present and historical, archaeomagnetic and palaeomagnetic data illustrate how the amplitudes of secular variation of nonaxial dipole terms strongly decrease as a function of averaging window, mostly when jumping from the 1-yr to the 1700-yr average. The mean archaeomagnetic field bridges the gap between the complex historical field and the far simpler palaeomagnetic field, and appears to be much closer to the latter. Confidences in average field coefficients based on statistical field models give a quantitative basis to the practice of averaging data over a few millenia in order to 'suppress secular variation'. In particular, the axial quadrupole emerges from noise when the available time series exceed about 6 kyr. This happens to be close to the timescales of excursions and reversals. It is now a priority to obtain detailed data spanning the last 50 kyr.     

Holocene chronostratigraphy of northeastern Baffin Bay based on radiocarbon and palaeomagnetic data

The northeastern Baffin Bay continental margin, which experiences high sediment accumulation rates, is an excellent location to study Holocene sedimentary variations. However, it is often difficult to obtain reliable chronologies of the sediment archives using traditional methods (δ¹⁸O and radiocarbon) due to specific oceanographic conditions (e.g. corrosive bottom waters). Here we propose a chronostratigraphy of three cores collected on the northwestern Greenland margin (AMD14‐204, AMD14‐210 and AMD14‐Kane2B) based on a combination of radiocarbon dating and palaeomagnetic records. Geophysical properties of discrete samples were used to verify the reliability of the palaeomagnetic records. Palaeomagnetic analyses indicate a strong and stable natural remanent magnetization carried by low coercivity ferrimagnetic minerals (magnetite) in the pseudo‐single domain grain size range. Correlation of the full palaeomagnetic vector (inclination, declination, and relative palaeointensity) was used to establish a reliable chronostratigraphical framework for two of the cores (AMD14‐204 and AMD14‐210) and to propose an original palaeomagnetic record for the previously ¹⁴C‐dated core AMD14‐Kane2B that covers most of the Holocene. Overall, this new chronostratigraphy allowed improvement of the timing of the main palaeoenvironmental changes that occurred in this area during the Holocene.     

Anomalous archaeomagnetic directions and site formation processes at archaeological sites in Israel

As part of a program to investigate archaeomagnetic secular variation in Israel and implications for archaeomagnetic dating, we have identified “anomalous” results that have yielded information about site formation processes. Stereonets, vector demagnetization diagrams, and sample location maps are most useful in examining stability of magnetization and consistency of archaeomagnetic directions with each other and with what would be expected from normal secular variation. A collection of examples is presented, including: strong and hard remanence due to vitrification, unstable magnetization due to lightning strikes, superimposed thermal magnetizations, chemical remagnetization, magnetization of a hearth fragment before falling, magnetization of a hot brick after falling, and mechanical deformation of an archaeomagnetic feature. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

When did Sardinia stop rotating? New palaeomagnetic results

Previous palaeomagnetic results from Tertiary volcanic rocks of Sardinia suggest that the island underwent a quick counterclockwise rotation between 20.5 and 19 Ma. In order to test this hypothesis, a new palaeomagnetic study was carried out on sediments and volcanic rocks with well-controlled biostratigraphic or radiometric ages younger than the suggested age for the end of the rotation.
Unrotated palaeomagnetic directions obtained from the Upper Ignimbrites (radiometric age: 18.5–19.7 Myr) and the Aquitanian tuffs collected in the Anglona region (N Sardinia) would suggest that the rotation ended earlier than 20.5 Myr. The directions found in the volcanics are perhaps the result of secular variation, rather than differential rotation of the Anglona region with respect to surrounding regions.
Two sites belonging to the upper ignimbritic unit (SI₂) in the Monte Traessu-Monte Rispisu area (Logudoro region) exhibited a large amount of rotation ( D =320.4°, I =60°) which may be age related (radiometric age: 19.9 Myr). Four dikes (radiometric age: 18.3–16.7 Myr) in the Arcuentu volcanic complex (Arburese region) yield results ( D =348.4°, I =33.8°) that indicate a further amount of rotation after their emplacement.
Stable end-point directions were successfully isolated from three Upper Burdigalian/Langhian sedimentary sites (biostratigraphic age: 18–15Ma) from the Marmilla and Logudoro regions. Consistent paleomagnetic directions obtained from these sites ( D =352°, I =49°) indicate that a small amount of rotation was still to be completed in the Langhian time. This result is consistent with the history of Sardinian volcanism, which did not end until 13 Ma.     

Multicomponent magnetization in western Dolpo (Tethyan Himalaya, Nepal): tectonic implications

A palaeomagnetic study has been carried out in the Tethyan Himalaya (TH; the northern margin of Greater India). Twenty-six palaeomagnetic sites have been sampled in Triassic low-grade metasediments of western Dolpo. Two remanent components have been identified. A pyrrhotite component, characterized by unblocking temperatures of 270–335 °C, yields an in situ mean direction of D=191.7°, I=−30.9° (k=29.5, α₉₅=5.7°, N=23 sites). The component fails the fold test at the 99% confidence level (k_{in situ}/k_bed=6.9) and is therefore of postfolding origin. For reason of the low metamorphic grade, this pyrrhotite magnetization is believed to be of thermo-chemical origin. Geochronological data and inclination matching indicate an acquisition age around 35 Ma. The second remanence component has higher unblocking temperatures (>400 °C and up to 500–580 °C range) and resides in magnetite. A positive fold test and comparison with expected Triassic palaeomagnetic directions suggest a primary origin.The postfolding character of the pyrrhotite component, and its interpreted age of remanence acquisition, implies that the main Himalayan folding is older than 35 Ma in the western Dolpo area. This study also suggests that the second metamorphic event (Neo-Himalayan) was more significant in the Dolpo area than the first (Eo-Himalayan) one.A clockwise rotation of 10–15° is inferred from the pyrrhotite component, which is compatible with oroclinal bending and/or rotational underthrusting models. This rotation is also supported by the magnetite component, indicating that no rotation of the Tethyan Himalaya relative to India took place before 35 Ma.     

Magnetic carriers and remanence mechanisms in magnetite‐poor sediments of Pleistocene age,southern North Sea margin

Pleistocene sedimentary sequences in the East Anglian region of Britain record both major and minor climatic oscillations, and the impact of isostatic and eustatic variations. Intensively studied in terms of their lithology and biostratigraphy, the sequences have been difficult to place in an absolute timeframe. Dating and correlation by magnetostratigraphy has been attempted over a number of years. However, these sediments are difficult to date by palaeomagnetic means because they are poor in detrital magnetite, are subject to post‐depositional deformation and diagenesis, and have unknown rates of sedimentation. Determining whether their natural remanence magnetisation (NRM) directions are reliable thus requires information on the mode and timing of remanence acquisition. Here, we apply palaeomagnetic, rock magnetic and mineralogical analyses to identify the NRM carriers in these sediments and hence their palaeomagnetic reliability. Within oxidised fluvial sediments (the Kesgrave Formation), the magnetic carriers appear to be relict magnetic minerals (ferrian ilmenites, chromites, haematite and goethite), which sometimes carry a reliable primary depositional remanence (DRM) but often an overprinting viscous (time‐varying) remanence (VRM). Within some reduced marine and intertidal sediments (within the Crag basin), the iron sulphide, greigite, has been found to carry a reliable, ‘syn’‐depositional chemical remanence (CRM). In all the sediments, magnetic inclusions within silicates are abundant, are significant for the mineral magnetic signal but contribute little to any recoverable palaeomagnetic information. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Precambrian palaeomagnetism in Australia II: Basic dykes from the Gawler Block

A palaeomagnetic study of fourty Precambrian dykes which intrude the Gawler Block in South Australia, reveals two principal groups of directions after magnetic cleaning. Pole positions computed from dyke-mean V.G.P.s lie at 50.8°E, 61.4°S (A⁹⁵ = 8.6°) for group GA and 86.4°E, 22.8°S (A⁹⁵ = 11.3°) for group GB. Rb-Sr geochronological studies on samples from the two groups indicate that the dykes constituting group GB were intruded at 1700 ± 100 m.y. and the dykes which yield group GA at 1500 ± 200 m.y. Both palaeomagnetic poles coincide with pole positions previously obtained from a study of the South Australian Precambrian haematite ore bodies, thereby providing age constraints on their date of formation.     

The challenge of dating early pleistocene fossil teeth by the combined uranium series–electron spin resonance method: the Venta Micena palaeontological site (Orce,Spain)

The palaeontological site of Venta Micena (Orce, Andalusia, Spain) lies in the eastern sector of the Guadix–Baza basin, one of the best documented areas in Europe for Plio‐Pleistocene biostratigraphy. The combination of biochronological and palaeomagnetic results, combined with the radiometric data obtained for Atapuerca Sima del Elefante, indicated that the Venta Micena stratum was formed between the Jaramillo and Olduvai palaeomagnetic events, most likely between 1.22 and 1.77 Ma. Five fossil teeth from two outcrops (sites A and B) were selected to assess the potential of combined uranium series–electron spin resonance (US‐ESR) dating of Early Pleistocene sites. Although the US‐ESR results of the first outcrop showed a large scatter between the three teeth, the mean age of 1.37 ± 0.24 Ma can be considered a reasonable age estimate for Venta Micena. The mean ESR age of 0.62 ± 0.03 Ma obtained for site B seems to be a severe underestimation when compared with the independent age control. This underestimation is attributed to a relative recent U‐mobilization event that led to some U‐leaching. The results show that any ESR age calculations of old samples are extremely sensitive to variations in the measured ²³⁰Th/²³⁴U ratios in dental tissues. Although the results demonstrate that ESR can in principle be applied to Early Pleistocene sites, they also reveal the complexity of dating such old teeth. It is necessary to continue research in several directions, such as study of the behaviour of ESR signals in old teeth and understanding recent U‐mobilization processes, to improve the reliability of the combined US‐ESR dating method applied to Early Pleistocene times, a period for which the number of available numerical dating techniques is very limited. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stratigraphy, palaeomagnetism and age of volcanics in the upper regions of ÞJórsárdalur valley, central southern Iceland

The 'Hreppar Formation' of southern Iceland is a succession mostly composed of basalt lavas and clastic material, with a slight anticlinal structure. It may represent a crustal fragment left in place by eastwards movement of the active spreading zone during the past 2–3 Ma. Evidence of several cycles of alternating glacial-interglacial conditions is seen in this succession. The first systematic stratigraphic study within the succession which is combined with K-Ar age determinations and laboratory palaeomagnetic measurements on oriented cores has yielded encouraging results. The age determinations confirm earlier estimates by Icelandic geologists on the age range spanned by the Hreppar succession. Units from the Jaramillo geomagnetic subchron are present in its upper part, and at least one polarity reversal event in the lower Matuyama chron is also recorded.     

Palaeomagnetic evidence for Tertiary counterclockwise rotation of Adria

With the aim of obtaining Tertiary palaeomagnetic directions for the Adriatic Foreland of the Dinaric nappe system, we carried out a palaeomagnetic study on platform carbonates from stable Istria, from the northwestern and the Central Dalmatia segment of imbricated Adria. Despite the weak to very weak natural remanences of these rocks, we obtained tectonically useful palaeomagnetic directions for 25 sites from 20 localities. All exhibit westerly declinations, both before and after tilt correction. Concerning the age of the magnetizations, we conclude that five subhorizontal and magnetite bearing Eocene localities from stable Istria are likely to carry primary remanence, whereas three tilted and hematite-bearing ones were remagnetized. In the northwestern segment of imbricated Adria the cluster of the mean directions improved after tectonic correction indicating pre-tilting magnetization. In contrast, Maastrichtian–Eocene platform carbonates from Central Dalmatian were remagnetized in connection with the late Eocene–Oligocene deformation or Miocene hydrocarbon migration. Based on the appropriate site/locality means, we calculate mean palaeomagnetic directions for the above three areas and suggest an alternative interpretation of the data of Kissel et al. [J. Geophys. Res. 100 (1995) 14999] for the flysch of Central Dalmatia. The four area mean direction define a regional palaeomagnetic direction of Dec=336°, Inc=+52°, k=107, α₉₅=9°. From these data we conclude that stable Istria, in close coordination with imbricated Adria, must have rotated by 30° counterclockwise in the Tertiary, relative to Africa and stable Europe. We suggest that the latest Miocene–early Pliocene counterclockwise rotations observed in northwestern Croatia and northeastern Slovenia were driven by that of the Adriatic Foreland, i.e. the rotation of the latter took place between 6 and 4 Ma.     

Only four major 100-ka glaciations during the Brunhes Chron?

 Early attempts at land–sea correlations between continental glaciations and the marine δ¹⁸O record were premature without a high-resolution continental stratigraphy. Existing schemes of continental subdivision and correlation-based facies floras and facies faunas do not provide the necessary resolution. This paper reports on a new high-resolution subdivision and correlation of the Pleistocene of the British Isles. Subdivision and correlation is accomplished primarily by aminostratigraphy based on aminozones which is calibrated by other geochronological means (U-series, TL, OSL, ESR, ¹⁴C, palaeomagnetic and ³⁶Cl rock-exposure dating) for correlation with oxygen isotope stratigraphy. These data are then used to test the hypotheses of Shackleton (1987) and Raymo (1997) that only four major glaciations occurred in the Brunhes Chron: during oxygen isotope stages 16, 12, 6 and 2. Their hypotheses are confirmed except for stage 2, when at least part of the British ice sheet was at its maximum somewhat earlier during stages 4 and 3. Received: 8 June 1998 / Accepted: 27 November 1998     

Palaeomagnetism of the central Cuban Cretaceous Arc sequences and geodynamic implications

A detailed palaeomagnetic study of Cretaceous age volcanic and sedimentary arc rocks from central Cuba has been carried out. Samples from 32 sites (12 localities) were subjected to detailed demagnetisation experiments. Nineteen sites from the Los Paso, Mataguá, Provincial and Cabaiguán Formations yielded high unblocking temperature, dual polarity directions of magnetisation which pass the fold tests with confidence levels of 95% or more and are considered to be primary in origin. The palaeomagnetic inclinations are equivalent to palaeolatitudes of 9°N for the Aptian, 18°N for the Albian. A synfolding remanence identified in 5 sites from the younger Hilario Formation indicates a late Cretaceous remagnetisation at a palaeolatitude of 16°N. Our results are in good agreement with previous palaeogeographic models and provide the first high quality palaeomagnetic data demonstrating the gradual northward movement of the Cretaceous Volcanic Arc throughout the Cretaceous. The declination values obtained all indicate significant and similar amounts of anticlockwise rotation from the oldest sequences studied through to the late Cretaceous remagnetisation. This rotation is most likely related to collision of the arc with the North American plate and transpressional strike slip movement along the northern margin of the Caribbean plate as it progressed eastwards into the large Proto-Caribbean basin.     

Radiocarbon ages of pedogenic carbonate nodules from Coimbatore region,Tamil Nadu

In this paper we discuss the limitation of radiocarbon dates on the pedogenic calcic nodules formed in situ within the vertisols in the upland region of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The radiocarbon ages were obtained using low-level scintillation counters and the dates range from ∼24 to 31 ¹⁴C kyrs BP. The ages correlate with the marine isotope stage of Late MIS3. However, since the calcic nodules are pedogenised and formed in an open system, the ¹⁴C ages should only be considered as estimates and not absolute ages because of the possibility of open-system behaviour with respect to carbon. Thus, we express caution in the interpretation of these and other radiocarbon ages obtained on pedogenic carbonate nodules. Multiple sub-mm size subsamples could provide more reliable age estimates.     

Palaeomagnetism,rock magnetism and magnetic fabrics in Precambrian metamorphic terranes of the Huabei Shield,China

This study has investigated magnetic remanence, rock magnetism and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) in granulite and amphibolite grade metamorphic terranes of the Huabei Shield between Inner Mongolia in the west and the Bohai Sea in the east. Rock magnetic studies identify annealed metamorphic magnetite grains with multidomain properties as the remanence carriers; a widely recorded stable remanence was probably fixed by grain shape effects. Granulite facies terranes are typically between one and two orders more strongly magnetised than amphibolite terranes and AMS fabrics correlate mostly with metamorphic mineral fabrics observed in the country rocks. Progressive thermal demagnetisation identifies a range of two and three component structures resident in magnetite. An important component recognised as a partial or complete remagnetisation by Late Mesozoic–Tertiary tectonic/magmatic activity is present in basement at the southern margin of the outcrop (Miyun terrane) and where extensive granite plutonism has occurred (Zhunhua terrane). These components have directions corresponding to remanence in the Yunmeng Shan Granite (119–114 Ma, D/I=33/58°, 39 samples, a₉₅=3.5°, palaeopole at 201°E, 64°N). Most remanence elsewhere was probably acquired during post-tectonic uplift and cooling of the basement between ∼2200 and 1850 Ma because palaeomagnetic directions are removed from the Phanerozoic palaeofield path and they are distinct from the palaeomagnetic record in the overlying Jixian Supergroup deposited at ∼1840–900 Ma. These latter magnetisations are considered reliable indicators of the palaeofield during Late Palaeoproterozoic times because deformation of overlying supracrustal rocks is mostly slight and no prominent deflection of magnetic remanence by magnetic fabrics is observed. Palaeofield directions and poles attributed to the time of uplift-related cooling are: Qian’an Terrane (D/I=215/71°, a₉₅=9°, 17 samples, pole at 99°E, 10°N) and North Qianxi Terrane (D/I=44/−45°, a₉₅=4°, 41 samples, pole at 79°E, 11°S). In addition, a more widely-preserved shallow northerly component correlates with a NW→E swathe of components recorded by uplift-related cooling within the Datong–Huan’an granulite terrane in the west of the shield. A preliminary Palaeo-Mesoproterozoic apparent polar wander path for the Huabei Shield is defined from the Palaeoproterozoic record in the metamorphic basement rocks and the Meso-Neoproterozoic record in the overlying Jixian Supergroup. It incorporates a loop between ∼2200 and 1850 Ma and exhibits a general east to west trend in subsequent times.     

Palaeomagnetic,geochronological and geological constraints on the tectonic evolution of the Mejillones Peninsula,northern Chile

Palaeomagnetic and geochronological data from an Early Palaeozoic high grade metamorphic complex (Jorgina Formation) and Jurassic layered basic intrusion (Moreno Complex) are reported from the Mejillones Peninsula of northern Chile (23–23°30'S). ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar dates from the Lower Palaeozoic Jorgina Formation and the Moreno Complex are between 170 and 158 Ma, coincident with a phase of emplacement of the north Chilean coastal batholith. This suggests that intrusion and magnetization of the Moreno Complex and the metamorphism and remagnetization of the Jorgina Formation were related to batholith emplacement. Extracted stable components of magnetization from all units (17 sites) define site-mean directions with a scattered distribution. The scatter in site-mean directions is interpreted as being due to minor, localized, non-uniform, block-fault related (normal or strike-slip, or both) rotation after 158 Ma. The palaeomagnetic and geochronological data indicate that no significant large-scale latitudinal translation of crustal blocks has taken place in this part of northern Chile since the Late Jurassic. In addition, they indicate that the uniform clockwise rotation after the mid-Cretaceous which affected the adjacent Cordillera de la Costa either did not extend into the Mejillones Peninsula or took the form of localized block-fault rotations. The restriction of palaeomagnetically defined styles of rotation to discrete areas within the north Chilean forearc indicates that forearc wide block-fault rotation models are not applicable to the Pacific margin of northern Chile.