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Late Neoproterozoic to Early Palaeozoic palaeogeography of Avalonia: some palaeomagnetic constraints from Nuneaton, central England

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2004

HAROLDO VIZAN
Affiliation:
CONICET in Departamento de Ciencias Geologicas, FCEN-UBA, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, (1428) Buenos Aires, Argentina
JOHN N. CARNEY
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
PETER TURNER
Affiliation:
School of Earth Sciences, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
ROBERT A. IXER
Affiliation:
School of Earth Sciences, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
MARK TOMASSO
Affiliation:
School of Earth Sciences, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK Now at: Department of Geology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
ROBERT P. MULLEN
Affiliation:
School of Earth Sciences, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
PAUL CLARKE
Affiliation:
School of Earth Sciences, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK

Abstract

Palaeomagnetic studies have been carried out on Neoproterozoic, Cambrian and Ordovician rocks in the Nuneaton inlier, England (52.5° N, 1.5° W). Three magnetic components were recognized, which provide a consistent structural and magnetic history of the inlier. Neoproterozoic volcaniclastic and intrusive rocks acquired a characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) dated at 603Ma. Late Ordovician rocks are represented by lamprophyre and diorite intrusions and their ChRMs were probably imprinted during their emplacement, at about 442 Ma. The Lower Cambrian sedimentary sequence of the Hartshill Sandstone Formation, which unconformably overlies the Neoproterozoic rocks and hosts the Ordovician intrusions, does not preserve a primary magnetization but shows the imprints of the Late Ordovician (442 Ma) remagnetization, as well as a probable end-Carboniferous remagnetization. Palaeolatitudes calculated for the late Neoproterozoic rocks and Ordovician intrusions are in good agreement with other palaeolatitudes calculated for Avalonia during those times. Both the late Neoproterozoic and Late Ordovician rocks additionally show ChRMs with declination anomalies indicating a large tectonic rotation of the Nuneaton area, possibly during one of the Caledonian phases of deformation affecting southern Britain.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2003 Cambridge University Press

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