Paleomagnetic evidence for no tectonic rotation of the central Italy Tyrrhenian Margin since Upper Pliocene

Abstract

We present paleomagnetic results from 141 samples collected at 12 sites from Plio‐Pleistocene clayey units in the extensional Central Italy Tyrrhenian margin. All samples were subjected to stepwise alternating field and/or thermal demagnetization. Positive fold and reversal tests indicate that the results refer to a primary component of magnetization. Paleomagnetic mean direction (Declination = 358.0°; Inclination = 55.2°; α95 = 4.1°) reflects the expected geocentric axial dipole field for the locality, thus indicating that this sector of the Tyrrhenian margin did not undergo any tectonic rotation during the past 4 million years. Copyright 1994 by the American Geophysical Union.