Did a large departure from the geocentric axial dipole hypothesis occur during the Eocene? Evidence from the magnetic polar wander path of Eurasia

https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(93)90114-OGet rights and content

Abstract

Low paleolatitudes are very frequent in Eocene to Oligocene formations, particularly in the Tethyan mobile belt. These anomalies and their possible sources are discussed. They are neither due to unreliable results nor to inclination errors in sedimentary rocks. Neither can large tectonic movements explain these discrepancies. The most probable causes having been rejected, therefore, the best explanation consists in an alternative magnetic pole position for Eurasia located at 69°N, 215°E. It is proposed that the mean magnetic field of the Earth was dipolar, but that its axis has swung from one stable position to another during the middle Tertiary and was therefore sometimes different from the rotation axis.

References (43)

  • Van der VooR. et al.

    Renewed paleomagnetic study of the Lisbon volcanics and implications for the rotation of the Iberian Peninsula

    J. Geophys. Res.

    (1971)
  • StoretvedtK.M. et al.

    Paleomagnetic and isotopic age data from Upper Cretaceous igneous rocks of W. Portugal: geological correlation and plate tectonic aspects

    Geophys. J.R. Astron. Soc.

    (1987)
  • SoffelH.

    Reinterpretation of palaeomagnetism of the Colli Euganei and Monte Lessini (Italy)

    J. Geophys.

    (1978)
  • ChannellJ.E.T. et al.

    Reapparaisal of palaeomagnetism of the Colli Euganei and Monte Lessini volcanics (Italy)

    J. Geophys.

    (1978)
  • BesseJ. et al.

    Revised and synthetic apparent polar wander paths of the African, Eurasian, North American and Indian plates, and true polar wander path since 200 Ma

    J. Geophys. Res.

    (1991)
  • KondopoulouD. et al.

    Paleomagnetism of the Tertiary intrusives from Chalkidiki (northern Greece)

    J. Geophys.

    (1986)
  • LauerJ.P.

    L'évolution géodynamique de la Turquie et de Chypre déduite de l'étude palomagnétique

    Thesis

    (1981)
  • OrbayN. et al.

    Paleomagnetism of dykes and tuffs from the Messudiye region and rotation of Turkey

    Geophys. J.R. Astron. Soc.

    (1979)
  • KisselC. et al.

    Etude palomagntique prliminaire des formations des Bey Daglary (Taurides occidentales, Turquie)

    C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris

    (1987)
  • SoffelH. et al.

    Apparent polar wander path of Central Iran and its geotectonic interpretation

    J. Geomag. Geoelectr.

    (1980)
  • KrumsiekK.

    Zur Bewegung der Iranisch-Afghanischen Platte

    Geol. Rundsch.

    (1976)
  • Cited by (76)

    • Terrane wrecks (coupled oroclines) and paleomagnetic inclination anomalies

      2016, Earth-Science Reviews
      Citation Excerpt :

      Assuming a maximum value of 1000 km northward displacement between approximately 35 and 3 Ma, a moderate translation rate of just over 3 cm·yr− 1 is implied. It has been suggested that the EMIA is a record of a large (18°) and abrupt shift in the geomagnetic dipole, and therefore not indicative of significant crustal mobility (Westphal, 1993). A dipole shift of such scale should, however, be recorded in contemporaneous rocks worldwide, which does not appear to be the case (Beck and Schermer, 1994).

    • Paleomagnetic constraints on the Cenozoic kinematic evolution of the Pamir plateau from the Western Kunlun Shan foreland

      2013, Tectonophysics
      Citation Excerpt :

      The magnetic inclinations of the observed ChRM directions are up to 30° shallower than expected directions calculated from Eurasian reference poles (Tables 2 and 3). These results are consistent with the well-known inclination-shallowing phenomenon observed in Cenozoic successions (particularly for red beds) throughout central and southern Asia (Cogné et al., 1999; Dupont-Nivet et al., 2010; Kodama, 1997; Lippert et al., 2011; Si and van der Voo, 2001; Tan et al., 2003; Tauxe and Kent, 2004; Westphal, 1993). Possible explanations for this inclination shallowing have been proposed by many workers and are beyond the scope of this study.

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text