Timing of rotational motion of Southwest Japan inferred from paleomagnetism

Paleomagnetic field directions for the period younger than 35 Ma are obtained from igneous rocks distributed in the San'in district, Inner Zone of Southwest Japan. The remanent magnetization of samples between 30 and 35 Ma old are fairly well grouped with a mean direction of D = 65.9°, I = 48.6°, and ₉₅ = 6.5°. This result establishes that Southwest Japan rotated clockwise 56 ± 12° during the past 30 m.y. A declination value of about 60° is observed in the rocks of 28 Ma ( D = 52.2°, I = 33.5°) and 21 Ma (D = 69.9°, I = 49.5°). Comparing this with results from dacitic rocks with an age of 15 Ma in other areas of Southwest Japan suggests that rotational motion did not occur possibly until 15 Ma. These results require that the rotation of Southwest Japan occurred just after the Shikoku Basin had been created.     

Paleoposition of Southwest Japan at 16 Ma: Implication from paleomagnetism of the Miocene Ichishi Group

New paleomagnetic data from shallow-marine sediments of the Ichishi Group suggest a clockwise tectonic rotation of Southwest Japan in the Middle Miocene. Samples have been collected from mud or tuff layers at 17 sites. Stability of remanent magnetization has been examined by using alternating field and thermal demagnetization. The polarity sequence, composed of four normal and seven reversed polarity sites, is correlated to Polarity Epoch 16 (15.2–17.6 Ma), based on micropaleontological assignment of the upper Ichishi Group to Blow's Zone N8. The mean paleomagnetic direction of the 11 sites shows an anomalous declination toward the northeast. This result suggests that Southwest Japan was subjected to a clockwise rotation through 45° since 16 Ma. The clockwise rotation can be explained by the drift of Southwest Japan associated with the spreading of the Japan Sea during the Middle Miocene.     

Amount of clockwise rotation of Southwest Japan — fan shape opening of the southwestern part of the Japan Sea

Paleomagnetic measurements have been carried out on welded tuffs ranging in age between 58 Ma and 112 Ma from Yamaguchi and Go¯river areas in the central part of Southwest Japan. The new data, together with those of younger igneous rocks published previously, define the change of paleomagnetic field direction during the late Mesozoic/ Cenozoic period for Southwest Japan. The paleomagnetic direction from this area has pointed 56 ± 3° clockwise from the expected field direction estimated from APWP (apparent polar wandering path) of the whole of Eurasia during the period between 100 and 20 Ma. In comparison with the expected one from the eastern margin of Eurasia (Korea, China, Siberia), the Cretaceous field direction of Southwest Japan shows the clockwise deflection by 44–49°. These results establish that while the eastern margin of Eurasia, including Southwest Japan, was rotated more or less with respect to the main part of Eurasia during last 100 Ma, Southwest Japan was rotated clockwise through more than 40° with respect to the eastern margin of Eurasia since 20 Ma. The large amount of rotation for Southwest Japan implies that it is rotated by an opening of the southwestern part of the Japan Sea, which widens northeastward (fan shape opening). The tectonic feature of Southwest Japan and the Japan Sea is analogous to that of Corso-Sardinia and the Ligurian Sea in the Mediterranean, indicating that the fan shape opening is a specific feature of the rifting of the continental sliver at the continental rim.     

Paleomagnetic constraints on Miocene rotation in the central Japan Arc

We present new Middle Miocene paleomagnetic data for the central Japan Arc, and discuss their implications for Miocene rotation. To obtain a refined paleodirection, we made magnetic measurements on basaltic to andesitic lavas and intrusive rocks from 12 sites in the Tsugu volcanic rocks (ca 15 Ma) in the northern part of the Shitara area, Japan. Significant secondary magnetizations in samples with strong magnetic intensities are interpreted as lightning‐induced components. Mean directions carried by magnetite and/or titanomagnetite were determined for all sites. An overall mean direction with a northerly declination was obtained from dual‐polarity site means for nine sites. This direction is indistinguishable from the mean direction for coeval parallel dikes in the northern part of the Shitara area, and also indistinguishable from the Miocene reference direction derived from the paleopole for the North China Block in the Asian continent. These comparisons suggest little or no rotation or latitudinal motion in the study area with respect to the North China Block since 15 Ma. We obtained a refined early Middle Miocene paleodirection (D = 9.7°, I = 52.5°, α₉₅ = 4.8°; 30 sites) and paleopole (82.0°N, 230.8°E, A₉₅ = 5.6°) for Shitara by combining data from the Tsugu volcanic rocks and a coeval dike swarm. An anomalous direction found at three sites could be a record of an extraordinary field during a geomagnetic polarity transition or excursion. Paleomagnetic data from Shitara suggest that: (i) the western wing of the Kanto Syntaxis, a prominent cuspate geologic structure in central Honshu, underwent a counterclockwise rotation with respect to the main part of the southwestern Japan Arc between ca 17.5 Ma and 15 Ma; (ii) collision between the Japan and Izu–Bonin (Ogasawara) Arcs began prior to 15 Ma; and (iii) clockwise rotation of the entire southwestern part of the Japan Arc had ceased by 15 Ma.     

Paleomagnetism and magnetic fabrics of Mio-Pliocene hypabyssal rocks of the Combia event,Colombia: tectonic implications

Mio-Pliocene hypabyssal rocks of the Combia event in the Amagá basin (NW Andes-Colombia), contain a deformational record of the activity of the Cauca-Romeral fault system, and the interaction of terranes within the Choco and northern Andean blocks. Previous paleomagnetic studies interpreted coherent counterclockwise rotations and noncoherent modes of rotation about horizontal axes for the Combia intrusives. However, rotations were determined from in-situ paleomagnetic directions and the existing data set is small. In order to better understand the deformational features of these rocks, we collected new paleomagnetic, structural, petrographic and magnetic fabric data from well exposed hypabyssal rocks of the Combia event. The magnetizations of these rocks are controlled by a low-coercivity ferromagnetic phase. Samples respond well to alternatingfield demagnetization isolating a magnetization component of moderate coercivity. These rocks do not have ductile deformation features. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and morphotectonic analysis indicate that rotation about horizontal axes is consistently to the south-east, suggesting the need to apply a structural correction to the paleomagnetic data. The relationships between magnetic foliations and host-rock bedding planes indicate tectonic activity initiated before ~10 Ma. We present a mean paleomagnetic direction (declination D = 342.8°, inclination I = 12.1°, 95% confidence interval α₉₅ = 12.5°, precision parameter k = 8.6, number of specimens n = 18) that incorporates structural corrections. The dispersion S = 27° of site means cannot be explained by secular variation alone, but it indicates a counterclockwise rotation of 14.8° ± 12.7° relative to stable South America. Paleomagnetic data within a block bounded by the Sabanalarga and Cascajosa faults forms a more coherent data set (D = 336.5°, I = 17.4°, α₉₅ = 11.7°, k = 12.5, n = 14), which differs from sites west of the Sabanalarga fault and shows a rotation about a vertical axis of 20.2° ± 10.7°. Deformation in the Amagá basin may be tentatively explained by the obduction of the Cañas Gordas terrane over the northwestern margin of the northern Andean block. However, it can also be related to the local effects of the Cauca-Romeral fault system.     

The territory of Georgia and surrounding countries in the Upper Cretaceous: paleomagnetic data

Paleomagnetic researches of the Upper Cretaceous rocks, collected from 24 cross-sections (530 samples) of Georgia have shown that only nine samples are suitable for the paleotectonic problem to be solved. The method of thermomagnetic cleaning was used for the paleomagnetic directions of these rocks to be determined. Magnetic-mineralogical data and the tests of paleomagnetic accuracy have proved the ancient age of the stable part of the natural remnant magnetization (NRM) that is close to the initial one. The study results have demonstrated that the position of the areas studied in the Upper Cretaceous time was located 11°–18° southward from their modern latitudinal position; the distance between structures of the Great Caucasus and Trans-Caucasus was 10°–14°. The wide variations of the paleoinclinations are connected with the local turns of tectonic blocks     

Evolution of the Komiji Syncline in the North Fossa Magna, central Japan: Paleomagnetic and K–Ar age insights

Abstract We carried out paleomagnetic measurements and K–Ar dating on Neogene andesitic lavas and sills of the Shigarami Formation in North Fossa Magna, central Japan. The Shigarami Formation is distributed in the axial part of the Komiji Syncline in the folding zone of the southwestern North Fossa Magna. Results of the present study indicate that the Komiji Syncline was formed shortly after 4.42 ± 0.12 Ma during the Pliocene. The sedimentary rocks of the Shigarami Formation consist of shallow marine and fluvial deposits. Intrusions of andesitic sills are found in the shallow marine deposits and two andesitic lava flows are present in the fluvial deposits. Oriented samples were taken from the sills at four sites and from the lavas at three sites. The samples produced stable remanent magnetization through stepwise alternating field and thermal demagnetizations. Results of a positive fold test indicate that the stable remanent magnetizations concentrate around a mean reversed polarity of declination = 169.0°, inclination = ?58.5° and 95% confidence limit = 9.0° after corrections have been made according to the direction of the bedding of the sedimentary rocks. Four fresh samples were selected for K–Ar dating from the samples used for paleomagnetic measurements. The groundmass of three samples taken from the sills yield ages of 4.42 ± 0.12, 4.49 ± 0.22 and 4.69 ± 0.13 Ma, whereas the one taken from the lower lava has an age of 5.91 ± 0.26 Ma. We believe that the Komiji Syncline was formed after the emplacement of lavas and sills in the area, because the descending Miocene strata were folded concordantly with the Shigarami Formation. The Pliocene and Pleistocene strata rest unconformably on the folded strata. The deformation might have progressed during the Pliocene, then slowed down in the Early Pleistocene. Our results suggest that the northwestward motion of the Philippine Sea Plate and the collision of the Tanzawa Block affected not only the South Fossa Magna, but also the North Fossa Magna.     

Paleomagnetic results from the Narosura and Magadi volcanics of Kenya

Results of a paleomagnetic study carried out on the exposed volcanic rocks on the western side of the South Kenya Rift Valley are presented. Nine stratigraphic groups ranging in age from Miocene to Pleistocene were sampled. The rocks consist of basalts, trachytes, nephelinites, melanephelinites, olivine melanephelinites and ignimbrites. Paleomagnetic poles obtained for different age ranges are as follows: Period I (0.64–0.72 Ma), 116°E, 85°N (A₉₅ = 6°); Period II (1.6–6.9 Ma), 297°E, 84°N (A₉₅ = 4°); Period III (12.0–15.0 Ma), 34°E, 80°N (A₉₅ = 9°). The results for Period II show large secular variations which are in disagreement with the model predictions for near-equatorial sites.     

Paleomagnetic and rock-magnetic survey of eocene dike swarms from the Tecalitlan area (Western Mexico): Tectonic implications

For long time the western-central Mexico has been affected by oblique subduction caused by Farallon plate beneath North America. As result, smaller plates (e.g. Cocos Plate), several fault systems outlining crustal blocks (e.g. Michoacán block) and magmatic arcs (e.g. Paleocene-Early Oligocene magmatism and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt) were developed. Still, no paleomagnetic data are available for Oligocene and Miocene. The principal aim of this study is to evaluate whether the tectonic rotations and relative motions of these blocks occurred before the Miocene. Here, we report a detailed rock-magnetic and paleomagnetic results from Tecalitlan area, located in the Michoacán block. Sixteen sites (about 150 oriented samples) were collected including one radiometrically dated diabase dike (35.0 ± 1.8 Ma). Rock-magnetic experiments permitted identification of magnetic carriers and assessment of the paleomagnetic stability. Continuous susceptibility measurements vs temperature in most cases yield reasonably reversible curves with Curie points close to that of magnetite. Reliable paleomagnetic directions were obtained for 12 sites. Inclination I and declination D of the mean paleomagnetic direction obtained in this study are I = 33.1°, D = 345.0°, and Fisherian statistical parameters are k = 25, α₉₅ = 8.9°. The corresponding mean paleomagnetic pole position is P_lat = 75.7°, P_long = 166.6°, K = 31, A₉₅ = 8.0°. The mean inclination is in reasonably good agreement with the expected value, as derived from reference poles for the stable North America. Magnetic declination is not significantly different from that expected which is in disagreement with a counterclockwise tectonic rotation of about 20° previously reported for the studied area. Based on paleomagnetic results obtained in this study compiled with those currently available from the Michoacán Block, we propose a simple model suggesting that sometime in Eocene epoch the convergence vector of the Farallon plate relative to North America plate was normal to the trench before reaching an actual oblique convergence.     

Large tectonic movement of the Japan Arc in late Cenozoic times inferred from paleomagnetism: Review and synthesis

Abstract Paleomagnetic studies facilitate an understanding of the evolution of the Japan Arc in Cenozoic times from the perspective of tectonic movement. The Japan Arc rifted from the Asian continent in the middle Miocene, while East Asia, including the Japan Arc, moved northward at the same time. The rifting phenomenon of the Japan Arc is described by differential rotation of Southwest and Northeast Japan. Southwest Japan was rotated clockwise through about 45° and Northeast Japan was rotated counter-clockwise through about 40°. This differential rotation occurred concurrently at about 15 Ma. Eighty percent of the rotation was completed during a period of 1.8 million years. These factors lead us to propose a'double door'opening mode with a fast spreading rate of 21 cm/yr for the evolution of the Japan Sea, suggesting that the asthenosphere with a low viscosity was injected beneath the Japan Sea area. The large northward motion of East Asia in relation to Europe is expected from the apparent polar wander path constructed from the paleomagnetic data of the Japan Arc. East Asia may have moved northward by more than 1700 km between 20 Ma and 10 Ma accompanied by a slightly clockwise rotation of 10°. The eastern part of the Eurasian plate was subjected to extreme geodynamic conditions in late Cenozoic times.     

Plio-pleistocene paleomagnetic record from the Michoacán-Guanajuato Monogenetic Volcanic Field (Western Mexico)

The paleosecular variation (PSV) and polarity transitions are two major features of the Earth’s magnetic field. Both PSV and reversal studies are limited when age of studied units is poorly constrained. This is a case of Central and western Mexico volcanics. Although many studies have been devoted to these crucial problems and more than 200 paleomagnetic directions are available for the last 5 Ma, only few sites were dated directly. This paper presents new paleomagnetic results from seventeen independent cooling units in the Michoacán-Guanajuato Volcanic Field (MGVF) in western Mexico. Twelve sites are directly dated by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar or K-Ar methods and span from 2.78 to 0.56 Ma. The characteristic paleodirections are successfully isolated for 15 lava flows. The mean paleodirection (inclination I and declination D) obtained in this study is I = 28.8°, D = 354.9°, and Fisherian statistical parameters are k = 28, α₉₅ = 7.3°, N=15, which corresponds to the mean paleomagnetic pole position P_lat = 83.9°, P_long = 321.6°, K = 34, A₉₅ = 6.6°. The paleodirections obtained in present study compiled with those, previously reported from the MGVF, are practically undistinguishable from the expected Plio-Quaternary paleodirections. The paleosecular variation is estimated through the study of the scatter of the virtual geomagnetic poles giving S_F = 15.9 with S_U =21.0 and S_L = 12.7 (upper and lower limits respectively). These values agree reasonably well with the recent statistical Models. The oldest sites analyzed (the Santa Teresa and Cerro Alto) yield normal polarity magnetizations as expected for the cooling units belonging to the Gauss geomagnetic Chron. The interesting feature of the record comes from lava flows dated at about 2.35 Ma with clearly defined normal directions. This may point out the possible existence of a normal polarity magnetization in the Matuyama reversed Chron older than the Reunion and may be correlated to Halawa event interpreted as the Cryptochron C2r.2r-1. Another important feature of the geomagnetic record obtained from the MGVF is the evidence of fully reversed geomagnetic field within Bruhnes Chron, at about 0.56 Ma corresponding to the relative paleointensity minimum of global extent found in marine sediments at about 590 ka.     

Paleomagnetism of the Upper Vendian Basu formation of the Bashkirian Meganticlinorium revisited

We have carried out paleomagnetic studies of the Upper Vendian sedimentary rocks from the Bashkirian Meganticlinorium (Southern Ural). The rocks were sampled at three localities spread over more than 100 km. Totally, more than 300 samples were collected from about 40 sampling sites. Stepwise thermal demagnetization up to 700°C revealed a stable component of magnetization of either polarity in 25 sites. The fold test and the reversal test for this component are positive, which is usually regarded as a sound argument in favor of the primary origin of magnetization. However, the Basu paleomagnetic pole (longitude 187.3°E, latitude 1.1°N) is located near the Late Ordovician-Early Silurian segment of the apparent polar wander path for Baltica, which might indicate a Paleozoic remagnetization of Vendian rocks. In this work we analyze different interpretations of the obtained results and evaluate the reliability of the Late Riphean and Vendian paleomagnetic data for Baltica.     

Paleomagnetism and accretionary tectonics of northern Sikhote Alin

The results of the paleomagnetic investigation of the sediments pertaining to the Silasinskaya Formation of the Kiselevka–Manoma terrane within the Sikhote Alin orogenic belt are presented. The ancient prefolding magnetization component is revealed: Decs = 271.7°, Incs = 52.2°, Ks = 13.5, and a ^95s = 5.1° (positive fold and reversal tests); and the coordinates of the corresponding paleomagnetic pole for ~103 ± 10 Ma are calculated: Plat = 26.3°, Plong = 70.5°, dp = 4.8°, and dm = 7.0°. As a result of this study, the geodynamical settings and paleolatitudes of the formation of three objects in the northern part of Sikhote Alin orogen are established: (a) the Kiselevskaya Formation of the Kiselevka–Manoma terrane was formed 133 Ma ago at 19° N under the seamount condition on the Izanagi Plate; (b) the Silasinskaya Formation of the Kiselevka–Manoma terrane was formed 103 Ma ago at 35° N under the oceanic island arc conditions; and (c) the Utitskaya Formation of the Zhuravlevsk–Amur terrane was formed 95 Ma ago at 54° N in the active continental margin conditions. It is found that the transform continental margin of Eurasia developed in the time interval from 105 to 65 Ma ago in the regime of a left-lateral submeridional shear from 30° to 60° N. The complete attachment of the studied rocks of the Kiselevka–Manoma terrane to the Eurasia’s margin (to the Zhuravlevsk–Amur terrane) occurred at the boundary of 60–70 Ma. Simultaneously, the sense of the displacement in the submeridional shears changed from left-lateral to right-lateral with the formation of pullapart type basins (Lake Udyl’).     

印欧大陆碰撞前亚洲大陆南缘古位置再研究:林周盆地上白垩统红层的古地磁新结果

拉萨地块林周盆地白垩系红层的古地磁数据一直都有较大争议.过去认为磁倾角变浅可能是造成这些分歧的主要原因.我们在林周盆地设兴组背斜两翼进行了系统的古地磁采样,15个采样点的特征剩磁分量在倾斜校正和倾伏褶皱校正后平均方向为D=339.3°,I=22.9°(α_(95)=5.1°).特征剩磁分量在大约69%展开时获得最大集中,表明其为同褶皱重磁化;此时平均方向为D=339.1°,I=27.3°(α_(95)=4.1°),对应的古地磁极为65.4°N,327.5°E(A_(95)=3.5°),参考点29.3°N/88.5°E的古纬度为15.0°N±3.5°.薄片镜下分析显示赤铁矿为次生矿物,岩石磁组构(AMS)也表现为过渡型构造变形组构.样品的特征剩磁方向应为重磁化的结果,E/I(elongation vs inclination)校正法显示特征剩磁方向并没有发生倾角变浅.根据区域构造,重磁化时代约为72.4±1.8 Ma到64.4±0.6 Ma.综合考虑拉萨地块东西部的古地磁数据以及地震层析成像资料后我们认为,碰撞前拉萨地块大约呈NW-SE向准线性分布,并处于~10°N-15.0°N;自~70 Ma以来,拉萨地块与稳定欧亚大陆之间至少存在1200±400 km(11.1°±3.5°)的南北向构造缩短量;印度大陆与欧亚大陆的碰撞不应晚于55 Ma.     

Late Cretaceous uplift history of the Cretaceous volcanic arc in Southwest Japan: Provenance analysis of the Yuasa–Aridagawa basin based on U–Pb zircon ages

The Ryoke Metamorphic complex has undergone low‐P/T metamorphism and was intruded by granitic magmas around 100 Ma. Subsequently, the belt was uplifted and exposed by the time deposition of the Izumi Group began. The tectonic history of uplift, such as the timing and processes, are poorly known despite being important for understanding the spatiotemporal evolution of the Ryoke Metamorphic Belt. U–Pb zircon ages from sedimentary rocks in the forearc and backarc basins are useful for constraining uplift and magmatism in the provenance. U–Pb dating of detrital zircons from 12 samples (four sandstones and eight granitic clasts) in the Yuasa–Aridagawa basin, a Cretaceous forearc basin in the Chichibu Belt of Southwest Japan, gave mostly ages of 60–110 Ma. Granitic clasts contained in conglomerate suggest that granitic intrusions predate the formation of Coniacian and Maastrichtian conglomerate. Emplacement ages of granitic bodies originated from granitic clasts in Coniacian conglomerate are (110.2 ±1.3) Ma, (106.1 ±1.8) Ma, (101.8+5.8–3.8) Ma, and (95.3 ±1.4) Ma; for granitic clasts in Maastrichtian conglomerate, (89.6 ±1.8) Ma, (87.3+2.4–1.8) Ma, (85.7 ±1.2) Ma, and (82.7 ±1.2) Ma. The results suggest that detrital zircons in the sandstones were mainly derived from volcanic eruptions contemporaneous with depositional age, and plutonic rocks of the Ryoke Metamorphic Belt. Zircon ages of the granitic clast samples also indicate that uplift in the provenance began after Albian and occurred at least during the Coniacian to Maastrichtian. Our results, together with the difference of provenance between backarc and forearc basins suggest that the southern marginal zone of the Ryoke Metamorphic Belt was uplifted and supplied a large amount of clastic materials to the forearc basins during the Late Cretaceous.     

Termination of intra‐arc rifting at ca 16 Ma in the Southwest Japan arc: The tectonostratigraphy of the Hokutan Group

Miocene intra‐arc rifting associated with the opening of the Japan Sea formed grabens in several areas in Southwest (SW) Japan, but the extensional tectonics of the arc are still not well understood. In this study, we first document the tectonostratigraphy of the Hokutan Group in the northwestern part of the Kinki district, and demonstrate the termination of extensional tectonics at ca 16.5 Ma, as inferred from grabens in the lower part of the group being unconformably overlain by sediments of the upper part. Second, we review early Miocene grabens in SW Japan to suggest that intra‐arc rifting was abandoned at ca 16 Ma, essentially simultaneously with the end of rotation of the SW Japan arc as evidenced by paleomagnetic studies. The lesser numbers of grabens and reduced thicknesses of graben fills suggest that extensional deformation of the SW Japan arc was significantly weaker than that of the Northeast (NE) Japan arc, which was broken into blocks, indicating various degrees of paleomagnetic rotation within NE Japan. The weak deformation has allowed paleomagnetic studies to infer the coherent rotation of the SW Japan arc.     

Ar/Ar ages and paleomagnetism of São Miguel lavas, Azores

We present new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages and paleomagnetic data for São Miguel island, Azores. Paleomagnetic samples were obtained for 34 flows and one dike; successful mean paleomagnetic directions were obtained for 28 of these 35 sites. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determinations on 12 flows from the Nordeste complex were attempted successfully: ages obtained are between 0.78 Ma and 0.88 Ma, in contrast to published K–Ar ages of 1 Ma to 4 Ma. Our radiometric ages are consistent with the reverse polarity paleomagnetic field directions, and indicate that the entire exposed part of the Nordeste complex is of a late Matuyama age. The duration of volcanism across São Miguel is significantly less than previously believed, which has important implications for regional melt generation processes, and temporal sampling of the geomagnetic field. Observed stable isotope and trace element trends across the island can be explained, at least in part, by communication between different magma source regions at depth. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages indicate that our normal polarity paleomagnetic data sample at least 0.1 Myr (0–0.1 Ma) and up to 0.78 Myr (0–0.78 Ma) of paleosecular variation and our reverse polarity data sample approximately 0.1 Myr (0.78–0.88 Ma) of paleosecular variation. Our results demonstrate that precise radiometric dating of numerous flows sampled is essential to accurate inferences of long-term geomagnetic field behavior. Negative inclination anomalies are observed for both the normal and reverse polarity time-averaged field. Within the data uncertainties, normal and reverse polarity field directions are antipodal, but the reverse polarity field shows a significant deviation from a geocentric axial dipole direction.     

Paleomagnetism of Permian rocks of the Subpolar Urals,Kozhim River: To the history of evolution of the thrust structures in the Subpolar Urals

The collections of Permian rocks from sections of the Kozhim River (Asselian, Kungurian, and Ufimian stages) and the Kama River (Ufimian and Kazanian stages) are studied. The paleomagnetic directions determined on the studied structures closely agree with the existing data for the Subpolar Urals and Russian Platform (RP). In the Middle Permian red clays of the Kama River region, the paleomagnetic pole N/n = 28/51, Φ = 47° N, Λ = 168° E, dp = 3°, and dm = 5° is obtained. The analysis of the existing paleomagnetic determinations for the Early and Middle Permian of the Russian and Siberian platforms and Kazakhstan blocks (KBs) is carried out. For the Subpolar Ural sections, the estimates are obtained for the local rotations during the collision of the Uralian structures with the Russian and Siberian platforms and KBs. The amplitudes of the horizontal displacements of the studied structures are, on average, 170 ± 15 km per Middle Permian. The scenario describing the evolution of the horizontal rotations of the structures of Subpolar Urals is suggested.     

Paleomagnetism of the Late Cretaceous ignimbrite from the Okhotsk-Chukotka Volcanic Belt,Kolyma-Omolon Composite Terrane: Tectonic implications

New Late Cretaceous paleomagnetic results from the Okhotsk-Chukotka Volcanic Belt in the Kolyma-Omolon Composite Terrane yield stable and consistent remanent directions. The Late Cretaceous (86–81 Ma) ignimbrites from the Kholchan and Ola suites were sampled at 19 sites in the Magadan area (60.4° N, 151.0° E). We isolated the characteristic paleomagnetic directions from 16 sampled sites using an alternating field demagnetization procedure. The primary nature of these directions is ascertained by dual polarities and positive fold tests. A tilt-corrected mean direction (D = 42.8°, I = 84.7°, k = 46.0, α₉₅ = 10.0°) yields a paleomagnetic pole of 66.7° N, 168.5° E (A₉₅ = 18.8°) which appears almost identical to the 90–67 Ma pole reported from the Lake El’gygytgyn area of the Okhotsk-Chukotka Volcanic Belt (Chukotka Terrane). This consistency suggests that the Kolyma-Omolon Composite Terrane and Chukotka Terrane has acted as a single tectonic unit since 80 Ma without any significant internal deformation. Accordingly, we calculate a combined 80 Ma characteristic paleomagnetic pole (Long. = 164.7° E, Lat. = 68.0°, A₉₅ = 10.9°, N = 12) for the Kolyma-Omolon-Chukotka Block which falls 16.5–17.5° south of the same age poles from Europe and East Asia. We ascribe this discrepancy in pole positions to tectonic activity in the area and infer a southward displacement of 1640 ± 1380 km for the Kolyma-Omolon-Chukotka Block with respect to the North American and Eurasian blocks since 80 Ma; more than 260 km of it is attributed to tectonic displacement in the Arctic Ocean due to the opening of the Canadian Basin.     

New paleomagnetic results from Ceno-Mesozoic volcanic rocks along southern rim of the Tarim Basin,China*

Paleomagnetic samples were collected from four localities located in the southern rim of the Tarim basin. The samples were taken from volcanic rocks erupted between Jurassic and Quaternary. Detailed analysis of all samples has been carried out with progressive thermal demagnetization. A characteristic remanence (ChRM) with higher unblocking temperature has been isolated from all samples. The pole position from the middle Jurassic is at 52.5°N, 187.9°E(dp = 3.7°,dm =6.5°); the directions of the ChRM of Cretaceous correspond to a paleopole at 69.7°N, 211.6°E (dp = 9.8°,dm = 15.9°); the Quaternary pole from the Pulu site is at 79. 9°N, 183.1°E(dp = 1.6°.dm =2.4°). On the basis of these new paleomagnetic data, tectonic evolution of Tarim block is presented.