A revised Palaeozoic apparent polar wander path for Southern Britain (Eastern Avalonia)

Abstract

SUMMARY A revised apparent polar wander path (APWP) is presented for Palaeozoic Southern Britain. The new path, based on a structural reinterpretation of existing data combined with new data from Wales, differs significantly from previous estimates in the following ways: (1) the 1,ocus of the Ordovician path segment is extended by approximately 25 degrees of arc; (2) revised time-calibration of the APWP suggests more Ordovician APW than previously calculated; and (3) the new path implies Middle Ordovician separation across the British sector of Iapetus to be greater than previous palaeomagnetic estimates based on APWP analyses (c. 3300 km; Northern Britain c. 133, Southern Britain c. 45s).