| Abstract: | Eulerian rotations of continents induce changes of palaeomagnetic vector orientation that cannot easily be deduced from the parameters of the rotation. An algorithm for the calculation of the new palaeomagnetic declination is proposed and simple rules describing the phenomena are drawn. Applications of this algorithm to the relative rotations of Spain and Europe during the Mesozoic allow a comparison of the geological models with the available palaeomagnetic data, indicating: (1) Spain and Europe did not move with respect to one another between Lower Permian and Upper Triassic times; (2) the palaeomagnetic declination difference observed between these two blocks in the Triassic could be due to a multiphase history, the opening of the Bay of Biscay having occurred during the latest phase in Upper Cretaceous. |
