High‐Resolution Tracking of Baltica's Northward Drift in the Ordovician
Abstract We investigated the paleogeography of Baltica via a paleomagnetic study of 471‐454 Ma limestones from the Siljan (Sweden) impact structure. Stepwise thermal demagnetization isolated a well‐defined magnetization component that unblocks up to the Curie temperature of magnetite and passes fold...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114204 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850136958924226560 |
|---|---|
| author | Nastaran Ahanin Stuart A. Gilder |
| author_facet | Nastaran Ahanin Stuart A. Gilder |
| author_sort | Nastaran Ahanin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We investigated the paleogeography of Baltica via a paleomagnetic study of 471‐454 Ma limestones from the Siljan (Sweden) impact structure. Stepwise thermal demagnetization isolated a well‐defined magnetization component that unblocks up to the Curie temperature of magnetite and passes fold and reversal tests, indicative of a primary magnetization. Paleolatitude data show that Baltica experienced an initial stationary phase at approximately 55°S from 471 to 467 Ma, followed by a rapid northward drift (∼35 cm/yr) after 467 Ma. This motion slowed to ∼15 cm/yr at ∼463 Ma until 454 Ma when Baltica reached 33°S. A notable correlation was found between Baltica's latitude and the relative proportion of magnetite and hematite in the carbonates; they are relatively hematite rich at 55°S and magnetite rich by 33°S. Our results provide a high‐precision model how Baltica moved in the Ordovician with potential environmental implications regarding the oxidation state of the ocean at that time. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1f0360c17b754d76abc4468db064843c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-1f0360c17b754d76abc4468db064843c2025-08-20T02:30:59ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-04-01527n/an/a10.1029/2024GL114204High‐Resolution Tracking of Baltica's Northward Drift in the OrdovicianNastaran Ahanin0Stuart A. Gilder1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University Munich GermanyDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University Munich GermanyAbstract We investigated the paleogeography of Baltica via a paleomagnetic study of 471‐454 Ma limestones from the Siljan (Sweden) impact structure. Stepwise thermal demagnetization isolated a well‐defined magnetization component that unblocks up to the Curie temperature of magnetite and passes fold and reversal tests, indicative of a primary magnetization. Paleolatitude data show that Baltica experienced an initial stationary phase at approximately 55°S from 471 to 467 Ma, followed by a rapid northward drift (∼35 cm/yr) after 467 Ma. This motion slowed to ∼15 cm/yr at ∼463 Ma until 454 Ma when Baltica reached 33°S. A notable correlation was found between Baltica's latitude and the relative proportion of magnetite and hematite in the carbonates; they are relatively hematite rich at 55°S and magnetite rich by 33°S. Our results provide a high‐precision model how Baltica moved in the Ordovician with potential environmental implications regarding the oxidation state of the ocean at that time.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114204PaleomagnetismBalticapaleogeographyhematiteSiljanOrdovician |
| spellingShingle | Nastaran Ahanin Stuart A. Gilder High‐Resolution Tracking of Baltica's Northward Drift in the Ordovician Geophysical Research Letters Paleomagnetism Baltica paleogeography hematite Siljan Ordovician |
| title | High‐Resolution Tracking of Baltica's Northward Drift in the Ordovician |
| title_full | High‐Resolution Tracking of Baltica's Northward Drift in the Ordovician |
| title_fullStr | High‐Resolution Tracking of Baltica's Northward Drift in the Ordovician |
| title_full_unstemmed | High‐Resolution Tracking of Baltica's Northward Drift in the Ordovician |
| title_short | High‐Resolution Tracking of Baltica's Northward Drift in the Ordovician |
| title_sort | high resolution tracking of baltica s northward drift in the ordovician |
| topic | Paleomagnetism Baltica paleogeography hematite Siljan Ordovician |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114204 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nastaranahanin highresolutiontrackingofbalticasnorthwarddriftintheordovician AT stuartagilder highresolutiontrackingofbalticasnorthwarddriftintheordovician |