A new Late Triassic-Liasic Palaeomagnetic pole from superimposed and juxtaposed magnetizations in the Saharan craton

Abstract

SUMMARY Palaeomagnetic measurements, in the Late Triassic-Liasic Zarzaytine formations of the La Recul6e area, showed the existence of superimposed and juxtaposed magnetizations. The separation of the juxtaposed magnetizations yielded Late Triassic-Liasic magnetization directions of normal and reversed polarities. The new corresponding palaeomagnetic pole agrees well with a Pangea A configuration. It confirms, from Autunian to Lias, a latitudinal displacement of stable Africa towards the north, with important anti-clockwise rotation contrary to Laurussia which did not undergo significant rotation. This transition of Pangea from A2 to A ended before the Late Triassic. It corresponds to dextral movements in the HercynoAppalachian collision area, and perhaps to part of the northwards drift of microcontinents of Gondwanian origin located north of the Arabian promontory.