EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Gordon 1984
Gordon, R.G. (1984). A Paleocene North American Paleomagnetic pole incorporating declination-only data. Geophysical Research Letters 11: doi: 10.1029/GL011i005p00477. issn: 0094-8276.

A problem in determining apparent polar wander paths for the continents is how to incorporate the valid declinations from paleomagnetic studies that have measured shallowly biased inclinations (i.e. inclination error). It is proposed that in such cases pole positions and confidence limits be determined using a method previously applied only to paleomagnetic data from oceanic plates. Applying this method to paleomagnetic data from 67-55 Ma rocks of North America, a paleomagnetic pole, 78.7¿N, 185.1¿E, and 95% confidence ellipse, 6.0¿ major semiaxis striking 105¿ clockwise from north and minor semiaxis of 3.7¿, were determined. An analysis of the information, content of the data shows that the single declination-only datum, from the Naimiento Formation (New Mexico), contains 31% of the information, which would have been wasted by conventional paleomgnetic analysis if excluded or caused a bias if the inclination had also been included.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit