A re-assessesment of the shallow paleomagnetic inclinations of the Western Cyclades, Greece

Abstract

Consistently shallow paleomagnetic inclinations measured in Early to Middle Miocene lacustrine and dacitic volcanic rocks of the Kymi-Aliveri basin have been cited as evidence for an anomalous geomagnetic field geometry or northward drift of the Aegean Sea region. We present new paleomagnetic data from the lacustrine beds that are instead not anomalously shallow and consistent with deposition near their present-day latitude as predicted by global apparent polar wander paths. Anomalously shallow inclinations and easterly declinations reported from the Oxylithos volcanics are an artifact of an inappropriate tilt correction. The excessively shallow paleomagnetic inclinations reported from the deformed Middle Miocene plutons on Mykonos and Naxos are consistent with reorientation of an original thermoremanent magnetization acquired during cooling below 580°C by subsequent ductile strain at temperatures of 400-500°C. Magnetization overprints observed in these rocks may reflect the acquisition of a stable chemical remanent magnetization lying parallel to the transposed high-temperature magnetization as the result of low-temperature (<350°C) maghemitization. We therefore find no convincing evidence for an anomalous Middle Miocene field geometry, northward drift of the Aegean, or back-tilting of the low-angle normal faults that constitute the North Cycladic Detachment System.