Mesozoic (approximately 170-200 million-year-old) paleomagnetic poles from northern and south Africa form two distinct groups. The divergence has been interpreted as a record of intracontinental deformation but many of the poles are from vintage studies that do not meet current experimental standards. A key to determining the nature of the pole discrepancy is obtaining data from a stable part of northwestern Africa. We are engaged in a comprehensive study of intrusive rocks of Mauritania to define a new high resolution Mesozoic paleomagnetic pole. Related facets of our work involve efforts to constrain the nature of the relatively recent (0 to 1000 yr old) geomagnetic field, the paleomagnetic field (170-200 million-year-old), and the origin of Mesozoic intrusive rocks of western Africa.
Back to the
Paleomagnetic Research Group Home Page