Paleomagnetic study of the Ordovician Table Head Group, Port au Port Peninsula, Newfoundland

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
• Main Authors: Hall, Stuart A., Evans, Ian
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1988
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e88-135; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e88-135

A paleomagnetic study of the Ordovician Table Head Group in the Port au Port Peninsula of western Newfoundland reveals a simple two-component magnetization history comprising a reversely magnetized, stable southeasterly remanence with a, shallow to moderate inclination, and an unstable present-day overprint. Pole positions for the stable component, both with and without tectonic tilt correction, correspond with the Early to middle Ordovician pole positions for North America, suggesting this remanence is early. Although the nature of the geomagnetic field in the Ordovician is not well known, the polarity observed is consistent with that reported from other mid-Ordovician studies and appears to reflect a predominance of reverse polarity for this time interval. Evidence of significant rotation of any of the sites studied is absent, indicating that the continental margin in this region acted in an integral rather than a fragmented fashion during deformation.Previously published and new, but preliminary, results from the Early Ordovician St. George Group indicate the presence of two stable components of remanence. These components have similar south-southeasterly declinations but differ in inclination. The shallow to intermediate positive inclination component has a direction that is broadly compatible with Early Ordovician poles from North America. The shallow negative inclination component observed in rocks of similar age from other parts of western Newfoundland appears to be consistent with a later remagnetization of this unit.