Euler's theorem states that any movement of a plate on the surface of a sphere (such as the surface of the Earth) can be expressed by a rotation about an axis (Fig. 1). This axis is designated as the spreading pole, pole of spreading, or pole of rotation .
Geometrical construction showing how, on a plane, one can move a rigid body ABC to any other position A′B′C′ through one rotation of an angle α about a pole (a translation being a rotation at infinity). The pole is at the intersection of the perpendicular bisectors of segments AA′ and BB′ and CC′. (From Le Pichon et al., 1973)
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Seyfert, C.K. (1987). Spreading pole . In: Structural Geology and Tectonics. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31080-0_102
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