Palaeomagnetism of Tertiary Basalts from Libya

Abstract

Summary Of the Tertiary volcanics in Jebel Nefousa (Garian area) and Jebel Soda, 42 individual lava flows and outcrops were sampled providing a total number of 457 samples for palaeomagnetic measurements. With the exception of three phonolites in the Garian area, the volcanics can all be classified as alkali basalts. After selective AF‐cleaning in fields between 110 and 500 Oe, 20 sites (218 samples) from the Garian area were used for calculation of a palaeomagnetic pole at 86.1 °N, 152 °E with a circle of confidence A95= 3.7°. From the Jebel Soda area, 12 sites (138 samples) were used to define a palaeomagnetic pole at 78.4 °N, 196 °E with A95= 7.4°. The poles from both areas are different from the present geographic pole and are in general agreement with other results from African rocks during Miocene to Eocene. Copyright © 1973, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved