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A Late Cretaceous true polar wander oscillation

Author

Listed:
  • Ross N. Mitchell

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    California Institute of Technology)

  • Christopher J. Thissen

    (Yale University)

  • David A. D. Evans

    (Yale University)

  • Sarah P. Slotznick

    (Dartmouth College)

  • Rodolfo Coccioni

    (Università di Urbino)

  • Toshitsugu Yamazaki

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Joseph L. Kirschvink

    (California Institute of Technology
    Tokyo Institute of Technology)

Abstract

True polar wander (TPW), or planetary reorientation, is well documented for other planets and moons and for Earth at present day with satellites, but testing its prevalence in Earth’s past is complicated by simultaneous motions due to plate tectonics. Debate has surrounded the existence of Late Cretaceous TPW ca. 84 million years ago (Ma). Classic palaeomagnetic data from the Scaglia Rossa limestone of Italy are the primary argument against the existence of ca. 84 Ma TPW. Here we present a new high-resolution palaeomagnetic record from two overlapping stratigraphic sections in Italy that provides evidence for a ~12° TPW oscillation from 86 to 78 Ma. This observation represents the most recent large-scale TPW documented and challenges the notion that the spin axis has been largely stable over the past 100 million years.

Suggested Citation

  • Ross N. Mitchell & Christopher J. Thissen & David A. D. Evans & Sarah P. Slotznick & Rodolfo Coccioni & Toshitsugu Yamazaki & Joseph L. Kirschvink, 2021. "A Late Cretaceous true polar wander oscillation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23803-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23803-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Yifei Hou & Pan Zhao & Huafeng Qin & Ross N. Mitchell & Qiuli Li & Wenxing Hao & Min Zhang & Peter D. Ward & Jie Yuan & Chenglong Deng & Rixiang Zhu, 2024. "Completing the loop of the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous true polar wander event," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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