Abstract
THE virtual geomagnetic poles of Laurasia and Gondwanaland in the Carboniferous and Permian periods diverge significantly when these continents are reassembled according to the fit calculated by Bullard et al.1. Two interpretations have been offered: Briden et al.2 explain these divergences by a magnetic field configuration very different from that of a geocentric axial dipole; Irving3 (and private communication), Van der Voo and French4 suggest a different reconstruction and it is shown here that these two interpretations are not incompatible and that the first may help the second.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bullard, E. G., Everett, J. E. & Smith, A. G. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 251, 41–51 (1965).
Briden, J. C., Smith, A. G. & Sallomy, J. T. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 23, 101–117 (1970).
Irving, E. Paleomagnetism and its Application to Geological and Geophysical Problems, p. 270 (Wiley, New York, 1964).
van der Voo, R. & French, R. B. Earth Sci. Rev. 10, 99–119 (1974).
Westphal, M. Thesis, Strasbourg (1976).
Kono, M. Rock magnetism and Paleogeophysics, Tokyo 1, 118–123 and 124–129 (1973).
Creer, K. M., Georgi, D. T. & Lowrie, W. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 33, 323–345 (1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
WESTPHAL, M. Configuration of the magnetic field and reconstruction of Pangaea in the Permian period. Nature 267, 136–137 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/267136a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/267136a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Late Palaeozoic to early Mesozoic evolution of Pangaea
Nature (1986)
-
Drift of the major continental blocks since the Devonian
Nature (1977)