Paleomagnetism of the Lower Jurassic Lepلand Osta Arena formations, Argentine Patagonia

A paleomagnetic study in Upper Pliensbachian–Lower Toarcian rocks of Extra-Andinian Patagonia was carried out. Characteristic magnetizations isolated from three sections pass the tilt test. The resulting Early Jurassic paleomagnetic pole (PP) (Long.=129.4°E, Lat.=75.5°S, A95=6.8°, N=13, K=38.7, R=12.7), together with other reliable Jurassic PPs of cratonal South America defines a hitherto undocumented Jurassic track of apparent polar wander path (APWP). This track suggests recurrent movement of South America with high velocity during the Lower Jurassic. A comparison among the Jurassic PPs of Gondwana continents suggests that APWP can account for a great part of the differences observed between northwestern and southern African Jurassic paleopoles.