The R3-N3 and R5-N5 Palaeomagnetic Transition Zones in SW-Iceland Revisited.

Abstract

We present the results of geological and palaeomagnetic mapping of several lava profiles in Southwestern Iceland, covering a transition from reverse to normal polarity about 2 M.y. ago. The transition was first described by We confirm that the virtual-pole path of this transition is not confined in longitude. We also present and discuss instances of complex pole paths in older strata in Iceland, and we provide new evidence for the general reliability of palaeomagnetic directions from lava flows.