A Cambrian pole for the Moroccan Coastal Meseta

Abstract

Middle Cambrian volcanics of Sidi‐Saïd‐Maǎchou, East of El Jadida, western Morocco (158 cores, 23 sites), sampled in two localities North of Sidi‐Saïd‐Maǎchou, were subjected to progressive alternating field and thermal demagnetization, thermomagnetic cycles, isothermal remanent magnetization acquisition experiments as well as microscopic observations. The magnetic mineralogy of these volcanic rocks is dominated by magnetite and titanomagnetites. The palaeomagnetic analysis has revealed two characteristic components of magnetization: the first (direction D= 300°, I = ‐31°, α95= 6°, pole position at 14°N, 231°E, δp = 4°, δm = 7°, palaeolatitude = 16.7°S) is carried by magnetite and yields a positive fold test. It is interpreted, using the results of a baked contact test, as the original magnetization of Middle Cambrian age (520 Ma); the second (direction D= 121°, I = 20°, α95= 6°, pole position at 18°S, 55°E, δp = 3°, δm = 6°) is nearly anti‐parallel to the first magnetization but the fold test is not conclusive, and it is interpreted as an overprint that occurred a short time after this volcanism. This study provides the first detailed palaeomagnetic result from Cambrian rocks in the Moroccan Meseta. Copyright © 1995, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved