Paleomagnetic evidence for rotation of northern Calabria

Abstract

A mean paleomagnetic direction of D = 286,6 and I = 44,5 (α 95 = 17°, pole position at 297 E, 16 N) was obtained from Upper Cretaceous limburgites at M. Cerviero, Northern Calabria. The amount of counterclockwise rotation of the area since the Upper Cretaceous is of about 73°, larger than any known rotation of the surrounding areas: Sicily, Apulia and Campania. According to this data Northern Calabria, which is considered to be wholly allochtonous on geologic grounds, was subject to further differential displacement in respect with Sicily which was relatively fixed to the African plate, as well as in respect with the rotations between the Apennines, the Sardinian‐Corsican microplate and Africa.