Combined paleomagnetic, isotopic, and stratigraphic evidence for true polar wander from the Neoproterozoic Akademikerbreen Group, Svalbard, Norway

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 2006 Combined paleomagnetic, isotopic, and stratigraphic evidence for true polar wander from the Neoproterozoic Akademikerbreen Group, Svalbard, Norway Adam C. Maloof; Adam C. Maloof 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Galen P. Halverson; Galen P. Halverson 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Joseph L. Kirschvink; Joseph L. Kirschvink 2Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology 170-25, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Daniel P. Schrag; Daniel P. Schrag 3Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Benjamin P. Weiss; Benjamin P. Weiss 4Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Paul F. Hoffman Paul F. Hoffman 5Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Adam C. Maloof 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA Galen P. Halverson 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA Joseph L. Kirschvink 2Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology 170-25, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, USA Daniel P. Schrag 3Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA Benjamin P. Weiss 4Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA Paul F. Hoffman 5Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 28 Aug 2005 Revision Received: 27 Apr 2006 Accepted: 30 Apr 2006 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online Issn: 1943-2674 Print Issn: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2006) 118 (9-10): 1099–1124. https://doi.org/10.1130/B25892.1 Article history Received: 28 Aug 2005 Revision Received: 27 Apr 2006 Accepted: 30 Apr 2006 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Adam C. Maloof, Galen P. Halverson, Joseph L. Kirschvink, Daniel P. Schrag, Benjamin P. Weiss, Paul F. Hoffman; Combined paleomagnetic, isotopic, and stratigraphic evidence for true polar wander from the Neoproterozoic Akademikerbreen Group, Svalbard, Norway. GSA Bulletin 2006;; 118 (9-10): 1099–1124. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B25892.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract We present new paleomagnetic data from three Middle Neoproterozoic carbonate units of East Svalbard, Norway. The paleomagnetic record is gleaned from 50 to 650 m of continuous, platformal carbonate sediment, is reproduced at three locations distributed over >100 km on a single craton, and scores a 5–6 (out of 7) on the Van der Voo (1990) reliability scale. Two >50° shifts in paleomagnetic direction are coincident with equally abrupt shifts in δ13C and transient changes in relative sea level. We explore four possible explanations for these coincidental changes: rapid plate tectonic rotation during depositional hiatus, magnetic excursions, nongeocentric axial-dipole fields, and true polar wander. We conclude that the observations are explained most readily by rapid shifts in paleogeography associated with a pair of true polar wander events. Future work in sediments of equivalent age from other basins can test directly the true polar wander hypothesis because this type of event would affect every continent in a predictable manner, depending on the continent's changing position relative to Earth's spin axis. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.