Paleolatitude of the southern Kerguelen Plateau inferred from the paleomagnetic study of Upper Cretaceous basalts

Abstract

Palaeomagnetic measurements were performed on 106 basalt samples. The ages range from 100 to 115 Ma. Reliable palaeomagnetic results were obtained from three sites (Sites 747, 748 and 749). The considerable differences between the palaeomagnetic and present inclinations indicate that displacement in the direction of the geomagnetic meridian has taken place since formation of the basalt. Shallower palaeomagnetic inclinations than the present inclinations at each site imply a southward movement of the sites with respect to the geomagnetic pole. By comparing the apparent polar wander path of Antarctica with the virtual geomagnetic pole (VGP) of the Southern Kerguelen Plateau, we have concluded that no major tectonic movement has taken place between the Kerguelen Plateau and Antarctica since formation of the basalt. The angular dispersion of the VGP for the Kerguelen Plateau is calculated as 17°. -from Authors