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Paleomagnetic Constraints on the Origin and Drift History of the North Qiangtang Terrane in the Late Paleozoic
Author(s) -
Ma Yiming,
Wang Qiang,
Wang Jun,
Yang Tianshui,
Tan Xiaodong,
Dan Wei,
Zhang Xiuzheng,
Ma Lin,
Wang Zilong,
Hu Wanlong,
Zhang Shihong,
Wu Huaichun,
Li Haiyan,
Cao Liwan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2018gl080964
Subject(s) - paleomagnetism , terrane , geology , gondwana , paleontology , permian , paleozoic , late devonian extinction , devonian , red beds , early triassic , tectonics , carboniferous , cretaceous , structural basin
To better constrain the origin and drift history of the North Qiangtang terrane (NQT), we report a well‐dated paleomagnetic pole from the Late Permian volcanics of the NQT that appears to average out secular variation. Our new results yield a paleolatitude of −7.6 ± 5.6°N at ~259 Ma for our sampling area, which confirms the NQT drifted northward during the Permian and Triassic periods. The equatorial paleolatitude of the NQT is similar to that of the coeval South China block, demonstrating that they were in close proximity. Combined with palaeontological and magmatic evidence, paleomagnetic constraints on the drift of the NQT in the Permian indicate that the NQT moved northward together with the South China block at this time. The paleolatitude evolution of the NQT implies that the NQT rifted from the northern margin of the Gondwana in the Devonian, which is earlier than the departure time of the South Qiangtang terrane.