1985 Articles

Comment on "Tectonic Rotations in Extensional Regimes and Their Paleomagnetic Consequences for Ocean Basalts" by Kenneth L. Verosub and Eldridge M. Moores

Cande, Steven C.; Kent, Dennis V.

One of the more intriguing results from palcomagnetic studies
of Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) basalts is that a
surprisingly large number of samples have inclinations that
deviate significantly from expected values. Vetosub and
Moores [1981] sought to account for what appear to be systematic
departures of mean inclination at several DSDP basement
sites in terms of tectonic rotations along listtic normal
faults. Such rotations, about horizontal axes perpendicular to
the extension direction and typically amounting to 30ø-50 ø
but as large as 70 ø to 90 ø, were suggested to be characteristic
of an extensional tectonic regime such as near an ocean
spreading ridge system. There is a clear implication that large
tectonic rotations are a characteristic process associated with
ocean crust formation.