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The Msissi Norite revisited: K/Ar dating, petrography and paleomagnetism
Author(s) -
Salmon E.,
Montigny R.,
Edel J. B.,
Pique A.,
Thuizat R.,
Westphal M.
Publication year - 1986
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/gl013i008p00741
Subject(s) - paleomagnetism , norite , geology , petrography , devonian , biotite , geochemistry , anorthosite , igneous rock , gabbro , paleontology , plagioclase , quartz
The "Msissi norite" in Morocco (30.93°N, 4.71°W) from where one of the paleomagnetic reference pole for Africa in Devonian times has been derived, has been revisited and dated. Petrological examination shows that the rock is an alkaline gabbro (teschenite). K‐Ar analyses on fresh biotite yield a 136‐139 Ma age, which infirms the supposed Devonian age. The paleomagnetic study displays several distinct magnetic components.