Palaeomagnetism of Precambrian rocks from Southeast Norway and South Sweden

Precambrian amphibolite and hyperite rocks from the Bamble and Kongsberg areas in SE Norway, and amphibolite rocks from SW Sweden were investigated for evidence of remagnetization by the Sveconorwegian metamorphic episode. The similarity of the characteristic natural remanent magnetization directions, shown by the various rocks from the Bamble and Kongsberg areas, indeed supports the idea of remagnetization on a regional scale. Therefore the average pole position at 3°S, 153°W, determined from six sites in these areas, is considered to reflect the average virtual pole position for the post-Sveconorwegian period of uplift and cooling (1,120–975) · 10⁶ year ago. The pole positions determined from the characteristic natural remanent magnetization directions of amphibolite rocks in SW Sweden are indicative of being somewhat younger.In addition, two hyperite dikes were studied near Karlshamn in SE Sweden. Their characteristic natural remanent magnetization is consistent with that of the hyperite dikes in central south Sweden (Mulder, 1971).The Precambrian apparent polar wandering path for Europe is reconstructed on the basis of twenty-three pole positions from the Baltic Shield and three pole positions from Great Britain. This pole path requires an average angular rate of apparent polar wandering of 0.2–0.3° per 10⁶ year.     

Palaeomagnetic study of the Swedish rapakivi suite: Proterozoic tectonics of the Baltic Shield

The major Proterozoic igneous intrusions in the Swedish sector of the Baltic Shield are the Ragunda complex (1293 m.y., palaeomagnetic pole 165°E, 54°N) and the Nordingrågabbro-granite-anorthosite complex (1385 ± 30 m.y.). The latter body has been partially remagnetised by later post-Jotnian dolerites (1254 m.y.), and sites influenced by the dolerites have a stable magnetisation with a mean direction D = 45°, I = ?39°, (α₉₅ = 4.3°). Elsewhere, the gabbro-anorthosite facies have a magnetisation of dual polarity predating the dolerite and recoverable at various stages of thermal and/or a.f. cleaning with a mean of D = 48°, I = 37° (α₉₅ = 5.3°); medium and high coercivity remanence resides in large magnetite grains and fine, predominantly hematite, rods in feldspar megacrysts. The Nordingrårapakivi granite yields a mean, also including dual polarities, of D = 221°, I = ?25° (α₉₅ = 13°), and the Gävle granite yields a mean of D = 26°, I = 17° (α₉₅ = 13°).New data define the a.p.w. path for the Baltic Shield after final uplift and cooling of the ca. 1800 m.y. Svecofennian mobile belt and prior to intrusion of the post-Jotnian dolerites at 1250 m.y.; this (ca. 1500–1200 m.y.) path defines a double loop similar in size and shape to the contemporaneous path for the Laurentian Shield and the paths can be superimposed to define relative positions of the shields. They were in juxtaposition prior to 1200 m.y. with the optimum reconstruction obtained by rotation of approximately 64° about a Euler pole at 1°E, 36°N. Pre-1500 m.y. palaeomagnetic data are also shown to fit this same unique reconstruction. The main geological correlations are an alignment of the Lower/Middle Proterozoic major strike-slip zones, the structural trends within the pre-1700 m.y. mobile belts, and the Grenville and Sveconorwegian (ca. 1100 m.y.) mobile belts. The anorogenic magmatism characteristic of Proterozoic times became gradually more restricted to one active margin of the continental reconstruction as temperature gradients decreased and the crust consolidated. All of these Proterozoic tectonic/magmatic trends are parallel to the long axis of the continental reconstruction.     

Palaeomagnetism of the dyke swarms of the Gardar Igneous Province,south Greenland

In the western part of the Gardar Igneous Province of southern Greenland, lamprophyre dykes intruded at ca. 1276-1254 m.y. RbSr biotite ages yield a palaeomagnetic pole at 206.5°E,3°N (nine sites, dψ = 5.1°, d_χ = 10.1°) Slightly younger dolerite dykes with RbSr biotite ages in the range 1278-1263 m.y. give a pole at 201.5°E,8.5°N (24 sites, dψ = 4.7°, d_χ = 9.4°), and the syeno-gabbro ring dyke of the Kûngnât complex (RbSr isochron age 1245 ± 17 m.y.) cutting both of these dykes swarms, gives a pole at 198.5°E, 3.5°N (four sites, dψ = 2.3°,d_χ = 4.4°). All these rock units have the same polarity and the poles are identical to those from Mackenzie and related igneous rocks of North America (1280-1220 m.y.) after closure of the Davis Strait; they confirm that this part of the Gardar Province is a lateral extension of the Mackenzie igneous episode within the Laurentian craton.In the Tugtutôq region of the eastern part of the Gardar Province 47 NNE-trending dykes of various petrologic types, and intruded between 1175 ± 9 and 1168 ± 37 m.y. (RbSr isochron ages) yield a palaeomagnetic pole at 223.9° E, 36.4°N (dψ = 4.1°, d_χ = 6.1°). Fifteen other dykes in this swarm were intruded during a transitional phase of the magnetic field which, however, does not appear to have achieved a complete reversal over a period of several millions of years. The majority of dykes studied are highly stable to AF and thermal demagnetisation and contain single high blocking temperature components with single Curie points in the range 380–560°C.Palaeomagnetic poles from the Gardar Province between ca. 1330 and 1160 m.y. in age define the earlier part of the Great Logan apparent polar-wander loop; they correlate closely with contemporaneous North American results and confirm the coherence of the Laurentian craton in Upper Proterozoic times.     

Palaeomagnetism of Suriname dolerites

Permo-Triassic and Precambrian dolerites have been collected for palaeomagnetic research in Suriname (South America) at 24 sites (280 oriented cores). After A.F. or thermal demagnetization, consistent directions were obtained for the following groups: Permo-Triassic (227 × 10⁶ y), 10 sites, 90 samples, D = 358°, I = −7°, pole 82° S, 40° W; Precambrian (around 1.550−1.650 × × 10⁹ y), 2 sites, 17 samples, D = 277°, I = +35°, pole position 8° S, 53° E; Precambrian (about 1.750 × 10⁹ y), 2 sites, 30 samples, D = 314°, I = +3°, pole 44° S, 30° E. Precambrian pole positions for South America, Africa, North America and Europe are discussed.     

New data on the structure of the Eastern Mediterranean basin from seismic reflection

The Avanavero Dolerite intruding the Guiana Shield in western Suriname is a quartz gabbroic mass yielding a Rb-Sr isochron age of 1603 ± 27 Ma, while the mass has invaded basement with a Rb-Sr isochron age of 1810 ± 40 Ma (λ = 1.47 × 10^?11/a; errors with 95% confidence level). From 61 K-Ar measurements on whole-rocks, sieve fractions of whole-rocks, density fractions and separated minerals it is evident that nearly all investigated samples, fractions and minerals (except microcline which suffered some argon loss) contain excess⁴⁰Ar. This excess⁴⁰Ar is very inhomogeneously distributed through the gabbroic mass. The bulk is stored in the plagioclase, in which mineral the excess⁴⁰Ar attains unusually high values ranging from about 14 × 10^?6 to around 150 × 10^?6cm³ NTP/g. The excess⁴⁰Ar contents of biotite, hornblende and the pyroxenes are comparable to published data.Two samples from a core drilling were studied in some detail. In graphs of radiogenic⁴⁰Ar versus K, four mineral separates from one sample display a fairly good, but geochronologically meaningless linear arrangement roughly passing through the origin. Most density fractions from the other sample show a tendency towards an array parallel to the 1603 Ma reference isochron.It is assumed that the excess⁴⁰Ar was acquired by the Avanavero Dolerite during a moderate tectonothermal event 1200 ± 100 Ma ago, when the⁴⁰Ar partial pressure was much higher in the environmental basement complexes than in the basic mass.     

Paleomagnetism of some mafic intrusions in the South Carolina Piedmont. I. Magnetic systems with single characteristic directions

Four mafic and two dioritic igneous bodies intruding along the flanks of the Charlotte belt, within the King's Mountain belt and near the Slate-Kiokee-Charlotte belt boundaries in the South Carolina Piedmont, were studied paleomagnetically. The results suggest that these mafic rocks with a single characteristic magnetization are broadly contemporaneous. A mean paleomagnetic pole position of 38.9°N 120.8°E has been calculated for the six bodies. This pole position falls near the 300 Ma old point of Irving's apparent polar wander path (APWP) for North America. The α95 circle of confidence (10.2°) includes points on the APWP between 250–360 Ma. Anomalously old KAr apparent ages, greater than one billion years, are suggestive of excess ⁴⁰Ar contamination for the mafic Buffalo pluton, whereas apparent ages in the range of 360–395 Ma old are interpreted as a maximum age for the other bodies, due to the possibility of small amounts of excess ⁴⁰Ar being present. A 10° westerly tilt correction suggested by Dooley and Smith for early Mesozoic diabase brings the mafic pole position of this study to more nearly coincide with the 350 Ma virtual geomagnetic position of Irving's curve, but the test is inconclusive, awaiting better definition of radiometric ages. The simplest interpretation of the data is that the mafic pole position reflects the direction of the geomagnetic field in late Devonian Carboniferous times. The similarity of this pole position with the points on the APWP for North America provides little evidence for displaced terrains and, with the precision of this pole position, horizontal displacements on the order of that suggested by the Consortium for Continental Reflection Profile (COCORP) results, or by subsequent studies, are not detectable. This and other pole positions from granitic rocks in the southern Appalachian orogen suggest that if displaced terrains exist, the evidence must be found in older rocks, or in other geologic belts.     

87Rb87Sr dating of LL chondrites

⁸⁷Rb⁸⁷Sr analyses of LL chondrites have been made in 10 whole rock meteorites, chondrules from Chainpur (LL3) and Soko Banja (LL4), density separates and chondrules from Guidder (LL5) and density separates from Jelica (LL6) and Ensisheim (LL6). Whole rocks define an isochron of age 4.486±0.020 Ga (λ⁸⁷Rb=1.42×10^?11a^?1) and initial ratio (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_I=0.69887±0.00012. This is in agreement with the results for H- and E-type chondrites. Analyses for chondrules from Soko Banja yield a very good isochron of age 4.452±0.020 Ga and strontium initial ratio 0.69954±0.00024, and give an interval for metamorphism of (37±10)×10⁶ a. A more poorly defined isochron is obtained for Jelica; the age is 4.423±0.041 Ga and the strontium initial ratio 0.69959±0.00029, indicating an interval for metamorphism of (70±60)×10⁶ a. No isochron could be obtained for Chainpur. This could be due to terrestrial alteration or to a late isotopic disturbance of the meteorite. The⁸⁷Rb-⁸⁷Sr system is also disturbed in Guidder and Ensisheim, probably as a consequence of shock. These results are discussed in comparison with our former studies, and in relation with thermal metamorphism in the LL chondrite parent body(ies).     

Electrical conductivity of molten FeNiSC core mix

The electrical conductivity of liquid (Fe₉₀Ni₁₀)₃S₂ saturated with 2.6 weight percent carbon averages 2.7·10⁵ mho/m at 1000°C and zero pressure. This may imply a slightly lower electrical conductivity for the earth's core than that obtained by extrapolating the properties of pure liquid iron and solid iron alloys to core pressures and temperatures. Although a sulphur-rich core would have a smaller proportion of sulphur, the effect of lowering the sulphur content of the FeNiSC liquid to about 15 weight percent would be unlikely to increase the conductivity above 5·10⁵ mho/m.     

An early precambrian age for migmatitic gneisses from Vikan i Bø, Vestera˚len,North Norway

Migmatitic gneisses of overall intermediate composition occur at Vikan i Bø, North Norway. A Pb-Pb whole-rock isochron on these Vikan Gneisses yields an age of3,460 ± 70m.y. A Rb-Sr whole-rock isochron on the same rock samples yields an age of2,300 ± 150m.y., and an initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of0.7126 ± 0.0011.The geochemical implications of the discordance of the Pb-Pb and Rb-Sr whole-rock ages are discussed, and a timetable of the geological events in the early history of Lofoten-Vestera?len is proposed.     

Isochron‐burial dating of glaciofluvial deposits: First results from the Swiss Alps

In this study, we use isochron‐burial dating to date the Swiss Deckenschotter, the oldest Quaternary deposits of the northern Alpine Foreland. Concentrations of cosmogenic ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al in individual clasts from a single stratigraphic horizon can be used to calculate an isochron‐burial age based on an assumed initial ratio and the measured ²⁶Al/¹⁰Be ratio. We suggest that, owing to deep and repeated glacial erosion, the initial isochron ratio of glacial landscapes at the time of burial varies between 6.75 and 8.4. Analysis of 22 clasts of different lithology, shape, and size from one 0.5 m thick gravel bed at Siglistorf (Canton Aargau) indicates low nuclide concentrations: <20 000 ¹⁰Be atoms/g and <150 000 ²⁶Al atoms/g. Using an ²⁶Al/¹⁰Be ratio of 7.6 (arithmetical mean of 6.75 and 8.4), we calculate a mean isochron‐burial age of 1.5 ± 0.2 Ma. This age points to an average bedrock incision rate between 0.13 and 0.17 mm/a. Age data from the Irchel, Stadlerberg, and Siglistorf sites show that the Higher Swiss Deckenschotter was deposited between 2.5 and 1.3 Ma. Our results indicate that isochron‐burial dating can be successfully applied to glaciofluvial sediments despite very low cosmogenic nuclide concentrations. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A palaeomagnetic study of Svecofennian basic rocks: Middle Proterozoic configuration of the Fennoscandian,Laurentian and Siberian shields

The Svecofennian mobile zone occupies the bulk of the Fennoscandian shield and represents terrain subjected to profound tectonic activity and granite intrusion at ～1800 My. This study covers the palaeomagnetism of basic rocks within this belt in Sweden between 65.5 and 67.5°N (gabbros and diorites of Kallax, Niemisel, Sangis, Stora Lulevatten and the Gällivare, Jokkmokk and Voullerim regions) magnetised during uplift and cooling of this belt at ～1750-1550 My. AF and thermal demagnetisation define a consistent sequence of high to low blocking-temperature components identifying a migration of the geomagnetic field during part of this interval. Together with the Rådmansö gabbro-diorite of central-east Sweden (palaeomagnetic pole 201°E, 36°N) these components yield a comparable sequence of palaeopoles to those derived from uplift magnetisations of the contemporaneous Svecokarelian terrain of Finland. The post-tectonic, Uppsala metabasite suite possesses a magnetite-held (“A”) remanence comparable to Svecofennian uplift magnetisations from elsewhere; within the aureole of the Almunge alkaline complex this has been largely displaced by a low blocking temperature (“B”) remanence, possibly related to a late stage in the Svecofennian uplift cycle. The Hälleforsnäs giant dyke possesses a magnetite-held remanence attributed to initial cooling at 1518 My (palaeomagnetic pole 167°E, 27°N) and at least two high blocking-temperature components. One of these is correlated with the ～1000-800 My Sveconorwegian mobile activity of southwest Sweden; this latter component is represented as the univectorial remanence in dolerite dykes of this age, and sporadically as a secondary component in the adjacent Svecofennian terrain.The results are compiled with other palaeomagnetic poles from the Fennoscandian shield to derive a generalised apparent polar wandering path for the interval ～1750-1550 My. They define segments of a large loop which agrees closely with uplift magnetisations from the contemporaneous Hudsonian mobile terrain of the Laurentian shield on a single reconstruction derived from Upper Proterozoic (1450-1200 My) palaeomagnetic data. The two shields thus appear to have formed an integral continental unit during the interval 1750-1200 My. A geological reconstruction of the Siberian and Laurentian shields is also tested and found to yield general agreement with the palaeomagnetic evidence. The major geological implications of the collective reconstruction are an alignment of major tectonic trends and a gradual restriction of anorthosite-Rapakivi magmatism between the termination of the ～1800 and ～1100 My mobile episodes.     

Rb–Sr isochron ages of the Cretaceous granitoids in the Ryoke belt, Kinki district, Southwest Japan

Abstract Granitoids are widely distributed in the Ryoke belt and have been divided into four main igneous stages based on their field setting. In this paper, we present Rb–Sr isochron ages for the younger Ryoke granitoids (second stage to fourth stage) in the Kinki district. The Yagyu granite (second stage) gave a Rb–Sr whole‐rock isochron age of 74.6 ± 10.9 Ma with an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.70938 ± 0.00016, and a Rb–Sr mineral isochron age of 71.8 ± 0.1 Ma. The Narukawa granite (second stage) yielded a Rb–Sr mineral isochron age of 79.5 ± 0.4 Ma. A Rb–Sr whole‐rock isochron age of 78.3 ± 3.0 Ma with an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.70764 ± 0.00014 was obtained for the Takijiri adamellite (third stage). The Katsuragi quartzdiorite (fourth stage) gave a Rb–Sr whole‐rock isochron age of 85.1 ± 18.3 Ma (initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.70728 ± 0.00006), and mineral isochron ages of 76.9 ± 0.5 Ma and 74.8 ± 0.5 Ma. The Minamikawachi granite (fourth stage) gave a Rb–Sr whole‐rock isochron age of 72.8 ± 2.0 Ma with an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.70891 ± 0.00021. These age data indicate that the igneous activity in younger Ryoke granitoids of Kinki district occurred between 80 and 70 Ma, except for the Katsuragi quartz diorite. The isotopic data on the various igneous stages in Kinki district correspond with the relative timing from field observations. Based on the initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, the granitoids of the Ryoke belt in Kinki district are spatially divided into two groups. One is granitoids with initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.707–0.708, distributed in the southern part of the Ryoke belt. The other is granitoids with initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.708–0.710 distributed in the northern part of the Ryoke belt. The initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of granitoids increase with decreasing (becoming younger) Rb–Sr whole‐rock isochron ages.     

Episodic mesozoic volcanism in Namibia and Brazil: A K—Ar Isochron study bearing on the opening of the south atlantic

An attempt is made to find a more objective and precise basis for the correlation of volcanics from southwestern Africa and South America than is possible by frequency diagrams of individual K—Ar ages. This leads to a critical appraisal of conventionally calculated K—Ar ages with the conclusion thata priori assumption regarding the isotopic composition of non-radiogenic argon and, hence, the standard atmospheric correction, are no longer tenable.K—Ar isotoopic data on Mesozoic basalts and dolerites from Namibia and Brazil are presented in terms of an isochron model. Plots for cogenetic rocks are unacceptably scattered on a “radiogenic”⁴⁰Ar vs. K diagram, but show a high degree of collinearity on⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar diagrams0K/³⁶Ar diagrams. Using the latter plots, a number of isochrons are generated which indicate that Mesozoic volcanism in these regions occured as several discrete episodes of fairly short duration. Effusion of the extensive Serra Geral basalts of Brazil and the Kaoko basalts of Namibia is shown to have occured simultaneeously at 121 m.y.B.P. Basalts from a series of boreholes along the central Parana Basin, as well as a group of dykes from Sao Paulo, yield isochrons of 128 m.y., which coincides with the postulated onset of separation of Africa and South America based on marine magnetic anomalies. Linear dyke swarms along the Namibian seaboard, interpreted as an expression of the earliest rift phase, have an isochron age of 134 m.y. Sills and dykes, mainly from southern Namibia, with isochron ages of 183 m.y. are considered to be the westernmost manifestation of Stormberg volcanism, not necessarily related to rifting. Most of the igneous suites examined have initial⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios significantly different from the modern atmospheric value.     

Paleomagnetism of the Lower Ordovician and Cambrian sedimentary rocks in the section of the Narva River right bank: For the construction of the Baltic Kinematic model in the Early Paleozoic

The paleomagnetic study of the Lower Ordovician and Cambrian sedimentary rocks exposed on the Narva River’s right bank revealed a multicomponent composition of natural remanent magnetization. Among four distinguished medium- and high-temperature magnetization components, the bipolar component, which carries the reversal test, is probably the primary component and reflects the geomagnetic field direction and variations during the Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician. The pole positions corresponding to this component have coordinates 22°N, 87°E (dp/dm = 5°/6°) for the Late Cambrian, and 18°N, 55°E (dp/dm = 5°/7°) for the Early Ordovician (Tremadocian and Arenigian). Together with the recently published paleomagnetic poles for the sections of the Early Ordovician in the Leningrad Region and the series of poles obtained when the Ordovician limestones were studied in Sweden, these poles form new key frameworks for the Upper Cambrian-Middle Ordovician segment of the apparent polar-wander path (APWP) for the Baltica. Based on these data, we propose a renewed version of the APWP segment: the model of the Baltica motion as its clockwise turn by 68° around the remote Euler pole. This motion around the great circle describes (with an error of A₉₅ = 10°) both variations in the Baltic position from 500 to 456 Ma ago in paleolatitude and its turn relative to paleomeridians. According to the monopolar components of natural remanent magnetization detected in the Narva rocks, the South Pole positions are 2°S, 351°E (dp/dm = 5°/9°), 39°S, 327°E, (dp/dm = 4°/7°), and 42°S and 311°E (dp/dm = 9°/13°). It is assumed that these components reflect regional remagnetization events in the Silurian, Late Permian, and Triassic.     

Paleomagnetic studies and estimation of geomagnetic paleointensity at the early/middle Riphean boundary in rocks of the Salmi Formation (North Ladoga area)

The territory of Karelia (Baltic Shield) is virtually not represented in the global paleomagnetic database for the Lower Riphean time interval (1650—1350 Ma). As regards the paleointensity H _an, the huge interval 1–2 Ga in length is represented in the global paleointensity database by only eight determinations concentrated in the interval 1–1.35 Ga. The paper presents results of paleomagnetic studies of volcanic and subvolcanic rocks composing the Early Riphean Salmi Formation, which outcrops in the valley of the lower Tulemaioki River in the northern coast area of Lake Ladoga. Results of the study indicate that, in the Early Riphean time, the East European craton was located in the tropical region of the Southern Hemisphere between 15° S and 40° S. The inferred value of H _an is close to the lower boundary of the interval (1.36–11.56) × 10²² A m², encompassing previously published intensity values of the paleofield 1–1.35 Ga; this supports the hypothesis on the existence of long intervals of a lower field in the period in question [Maquoin et al., 2003].     

High-precision 40Ar/39Ar age of the Jänisjärvi impact structure (Russia)

The ～ 14 km diameter Jänisjärvi impact structure is located in Svecofennian Proterozoic terrain in the southeastern part of the Baltic shield, Karelia, Russia. Previous radioisotopic dating attempts gave K/Ar and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of 700 ± 5 Ma and 698 ± 22 Ma, respectively, with both results being difficult to interpret. Recent paleomagnetic results have challenged these ages and proposed instead ages of either 500 Ma or 850–900 Ma. In order to better constrain the age of the Jänisjärvi impact structure, we present new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar data for the Jänisjärvi impact melt rock. We obtained five concordant isochron ages that yield a combined isochron age of 682 ± 4 Ma (2σ) with a MSWD of 1.2, P = 0.14, and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar intercept of 475 ± 3. We suggest that this date indicates the age of the impact and therefore can be used in conjunction with existing paleomagnetic results to define the position of the Baltica paleocontinent at that time. Argon isotopic results imply that melt homogenization was achieved at the hundred-micrometer scale certainly, because of the low-silica content of the molten target rock that allows fast ⁴⁰Ar^? diffusion in the melt. However, the large range of F(⁴⁰Ar^?_inherited) (4.1% to 11.0%) observed for seven grains shows that complete isotopic homogenization was not reached at the centimeter and perhaps the millimeter scale. The F(⁴⁰Ar^?_inherited) results are also in good agreement with previous Rb and Sr isotopic data.     

Palaeomagnetic study of late precambrian rocks of the midland craton of England and Wales

The Precambrian basement of the British region south of the Caledonian orogenic belt is only observed in a few small inliers; this paper reports a detailed paleomagnetic study of four of these inliers. The Stanner-Hanter amphibolitised gabbro-dolerite complex of uncertain age yields a mean direction of magnetisation D = 282°, I = 51° (15 sites,α₉₅ = 11.4°) after AF and thermal cleaning. Uriconian lavas and tuffs (～700-600 m.y.) of the Pontesford and Wrekin inliers require both thermal and AF cleaning for complete analysis of NRM. The former region (Western Uriconian) yields a mean of D = 136°, I = ?25° (6 sites,α₉₅ = 15.3°) and the latter region (Eastern Uriconian) a mean of D = 78°, I = 17° (9 sites, α₉₅ = 12.8°); the Eastern Uriconian shows a marked improvement in precision after a two-stage fold test, and the palaeomagnetic data suggest that some apparent polar movement took place between eruption of the two sequences. The Uriconian rocks in both areas were intruded by dolerites which yield a mean direction of magnetisation D = 72°, I = 54° (11 sites,α₉₅ = 13.2°).The collective data give palaeomagnetic poles related to Upper Proterozoic metamorphic episodes (Stanner-Hanter Complex and Rushton Schist) which are in close agreement with earlier studies of the Malvernian metamorphic rocks, and to the late Precambrian Uriconian volcanic/hypabyssal igneous episode. All of these magnetisations are probably confined to the interval 700-600 m.y., and are indicative of appreciable polar movement during this interval. The palaeomagnetic poles define an apparent polar wander path for this crustal block between Late Precambrian and Lower Cambrian times and show that cratonic Britain south of the Caledonian suture is unrelated to the Baltic Shield.     

Whole rock Th-Pb age for the Masuke and Dembe-Divula complexes,Rhodesia

A whole rock U-Th-Pb study was carried out on eight granites from a suite previously dated at 177 ± 4my(λ = 1.39 × 10^?11yr^?1) by Rb-Sr methods. A U-Pb isochron was not obtained owing to recent leaching of U in the outcrop. Seven samples gave a Th-Pb isochron with age 184 ± 16my(λ = 4.99 × 10^?11yr^?1), (^20/8Pb²⁰⁴Pb)₀ = 39.2 ± 0.2 and MSWD 0.8. The eighth sample fell off the line and was rejected on geological grounds. Dissolving 5 g aliquots of the powdered rock markedly improved the reproducibility of U analyses but analysis of the variances suggests that inhomogeneities still might exist between duplicate dissolutions. Th-Pb geochronology needs further development to bring it to the level of precision of the Rb-Sr method.     

Paleomagnetism of samples from the axial zone of the Afar depression

We have studied SmNd systematics in pyroxene and phosphate mineral separates of Angra dos Reis. A pyroxene-phosphate internal isochron age ofT₂ = 4.55 ± 0.04AE is obtained, in excellent agreement with reported Pb-Pb ages.¹⁴²Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios in pyroxene samples are systematically larger than those in phosphates by 6 parts in 10⁵. This variation is tentatively assigned to a radiogenic contribution from extinct¹⁴⁶Sm. Fission xenon components in pyroxene and phosphate separates are characterized by discrete ratios of fission/spallation and evidence is presented for a third ratio in celsian. It is shown that this characteristic is due to a close association of²⁴⁴Pu with the light REE. Computed ratios²⁴⁴Pu/Nd are the same in pyroxene and phosphate separates, but²⁴⁴Pu/²³⁸U and²⁴⁴Pu/²³²Th ratios are not. Taking the fission xenon retention age to be 4.55 AE, we obtain an abundance ratio²⁴⁴Pu/Nd= 1.5 × 10^?4 (or an atomic ratio²⁴⁴Pu/¹⁵⁰Nd= 1.6 × 10^?3) at this time and in the region of the solar system where the Angra dos Reis parent body formed. The exposure age of Angra dos Reis, as obtained by the⁸¹Kr-⁸³Kr method is55.5 ± 1.2m.y. Neutron capture during the 55.5-m.y. exposure to cosmic rays increased the ratio¹⁵⁰Sm/¹⁴⁹Sm in Angra dos Reis by 6 parts in 10⁴.     

Age of the Archean Talga-Talga Subgroup, Pilbara Block, Western Australia, and early evolution of the mantle: new SmNd isotopic evidence

Archean komatiites, high-Mg basalts and tholeiites from the North Star Basalt and the Mount Ada Basalt formations of the Talga-Talga Subgroup, Warrawoona Group, Pilbara Block, Western Australia, define a linear correlation on the normal¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd vs.¹⁴⁷Sm/¹⁴⁴Nd isochron plot. The data give an age of 3712 ± 98 Ma and initialε_Nd(T) of +1.64 ± 0.40. The 3712 ± 98 Ma date is consistent with the regional stratigraphic sequence and available age data and the SmNd linear array may be interpreted as an isochron giving the eruption age of the Talga-Talga Subgroup. An alternative interpretation is that the isochron represents a mixing line giving a pre-volcanism age for the Subgroup. Consideration of geochemical and isotopic data indicates that the true eruptive age of the Talga-Talga Subgroup is possibly closer to about 3500 Ma. Regardless of the age interpretation, the new Nd isotopic data support an existence of ancient LREE-depleted reservoirs in the early Archean mantle, and further suggest that source regions for the Pilbara volcanic rocks were isotopically heterogeneous, withε_Nd(T) values ranging from at least 0 to +4.0.