A new Late Triassic-Liasic Palaeomagnetic pole from superimposed and juxtaposed magnetizations in the Saharan craton

Abstract

Palaeomagnetic measurements, in the Late Triassic-Liasic Zarzaïtine formations of the La Reculée area, showed the existence of superimposed and juxtaposed magnetizations. The separation of the juxtaposed magnetizations yielded Late Triassic-Liasic magnetization directions of normal and reversed polarities. The new corresponding palaeomagnetic pole agrees well with a Pangea A configuration. It confirms, from Autunian to Lias, a latitudinal displacement of stable Africa towards the north, with important anti-clockwise rotation contrary to Laurussia which did not undergo significant rotation. This transition of Pangea from A2 to A ended before the Late Triassic. It corresponds to dextral movements in the Hercyno-Appalachian collision area, and perhaps to part of the northwards drift of microcontinents of Gondwanian origin located north of the Arabian promontory.