The Jurassic Paleogeography of South America from Paleomagnetic Data

Abstract

For decades, it has been interpreted that South America had remained stationary in similar present-day latitudes during most of the Mesozoic and the Cenozoic. More recent paleomagnetic data however, suggest a thoroughly different scenario for the Jurassic. In order to test the stationary vs. the dynamic—continent model, a refined Jurassic South American apparent polar wander path was constructed and compared with those from Eurasia, Africa, and North America. Similarities are such that a master path for Pangea is proposed. This path shows remarkable different polar positions during the Early Jurassic that are interpreted to have been caused by true polar wander. An absolute paleogeographical reconstruction of Pangea is presented. Paleolatitudes changes are very well sustained by paleoclimatic proxies from the southern and northern hemispheres.