First mid-Neoproterozoic paleomagnetic results from the Tarim Basin (NW China) and their geodynamic implications

In order to improve the understanding of the configuration and breakup history of the Rodinia supercontinent, a paleomagnetic study has been carried out on the 807 ± 12 Ma Aksu dyke swarm (ADS) in Aksu area, northwestern Tarim Block (NW China). The magnetic mineralogical investigations show that the magnetic remanence is principally carried by automorphous titanium-poor magnetite. The measured samples from nine dykes present stable magnetic directions with both normal and reversed magnetic polarities. Because of the monoclinal bedding of overlying sedimentary rocks, no fold test can be provided. However, a positive reversal test is obtained. The magnetic site-mean direction in geographic coordinates is close to, but significantly different from, the present earth field (PEF). A tilt-corrected paleomagnetic pole, therefore, is computed: 19°N, 128°E, DP = 6°, DM = 7° with N = 9. This new paleomagnetic observation reveals that the Tarim Block was located at an intermediate latitude of 43 ± 6°N. Integrating the geochronological studies of dyke swarms from Australia and the Aksu area and referring to the configuration of the Rodinia supercontinent proposed by Moores [Geology 19 (1991) 425] and Li and Powell [Earth Sci. Rev. 53 (2001) 237], the Tarim Block was placed north of Australia with the Aksu dykes being a possible northward continuation of lamprophyre dykes and kimberlite pipes in the northeast part of the Kimberley Craton, Western

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Source ISSN: 0301-9268
Author Chen, Yan, Xu, Bei, Zhan, Sheng, Li, Yongan
Maintainer CCSD
Last Updated May 19, 2026, 11:31 (UTC)
Created May 19, 2026, 11:31 (UTC)
Identifier hal-00069596
Language en
Rights https://about.hal.science/hal-authorisation-v1/
contributor Institut des Sciences de la Terre d'Orléans (ISTO) ; Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université d'Orléans (UO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
creator Chen, Yan
date 2004-05-19T00:00:00
harvest_object_id b8c07c17-2ed6-4263-82aa-20a13d20980d
harvest_source_id 3374d638-d20b-4672-ba96-a23232d55657
harvest_source_title test moissonnage SELUNE
metadata_modified 2024-12-02T00:00:00
relation info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/j.precamres.2004.05.002
set_spec type:ART