Improved Moscovian Part of the Gondwana APWP for paleocontinental Reconstructions, Obtained from a First Paleomagnetic Pole, Age-constrained by a Fold Test, from In Ezzane area in the Murzuq basin (Algeria, stable Africa)

Abstract

To improve paleocontinental reconstructions, paleomagnetic reference curves (Apparent Polar Wander Path: APWP) feature for large continents have to be continuously refined by adding up new high-quality data. For stable Africa, the Moscovian period was favorable for such aim, with well-dated and widespread geological formations. A new study has been conducted in the Upper "Dembaba" geological formation of Lower Moscovian age outcropping in the western part of the "Murzuq" basin (Saharan platform). Well-defined ChRMs, combined with remagnetization circles data, both constrained in age by a positive fold test, yield a new significant paleomagnetic pole ( = 25.2°S, = 59.9°E, K = 55, A95 = 5.4°). When joined with previous African data of the same age, it gives an improved reference pole for Africa ( = 28.9°S, = 54.5°E, K = 106, A95 = 3.6°). The Mean Moscovian paleomagnetic pole determined from an updated Gondwana Paleozoic APWP ( = 29.4°S, = 51.5°E, K = 11, A95 = 1.8°),...