Palaeomagnetism of Upper Bhander Sandstones from Central India and implications for a tentative Cambrian Gondwanaland reconstruction

Abstract

A virtual geomagnetic pole position for the uppermost Vindhyan sediments in Central India, probably correlative with the Cambrian of the Salt Range (W. Pakistan), was obtained from 43 oriented cores (7 sites) drilled from the Upper Bhander sandstones in the Great Vindhyan basin.Alternating field and thermal dema~etization resulted in a mean direction: D = 207.5", I = +9.5" (k = 137.5, "9s = 5.5") and a virtual geomagnetic northpole position: 146S"W 48.5"N (dp = 3", dm = 5.5").This pole position disagrees with the Cambrian palaeomagnetic results from the Salt Range. Implications of this disagreement for the pre-drift configuration of Gondwanaland, based on pa1aeomagnet.c results, are discussed.

Palaeomagnetic data from the precambrian Gwalior traps, Central India

“…The computation of directional data and the map plottings were carried out by means of the Philips Electrologica X-8 computer of the Utrecht State University, to which an off-line Calcomp 507 incremental plotter has been attached (Klootwijk, 1971(Klootwijk, ,1973a The N.R.M.-directions reveal differences corresponding with the groups mentioned above. Initial directions of sites IGWA and IGWB are directed southwards with both slightly negative (IGWA) and slightiy positive (IGWB) inclinations.…”

“…McElhinny, 1969); 3 = Cuddapah shales and sandstones (Athavale et al,, 1970);4 = Kaimur Sandstones (McElhinny, 1968); 5 = Malani Rhyolites (Athavale et al, 1963); 6 = Upper Bhander Sandstones (Klootwijk, 1973a);7 = Purple Sandstones (McElhinny, 1969b);8 = Salt Pseudomorph Beds (Wensink, 1972). a = Hyderabad dyke (Verma et al, 1968); b = Banded hematite jasper and quartzite (Athavale et al, 1970); c = Chlitoor dyke (Athavale et al, 1970); d = Mundwara complex (Athavale et al, 1963); e = Veldurti Hematite (Verma et al, 1966).…”

Proterozoic platform sequences of Peninsular India: Implications towards basin evolution and supercontinent assembly

“…Cluster of poles for the Bhander Formation (Fig. 7c) show reverse polarity and positive inclination (Klootwijk, 1973;McElhinny et al, 1978), with average paleolatitude of À4°. These paleolatitude data suggest movement of the Indian craton towards equatorial position (from 22°during the deposition of the Kaimur Formation to 4°during the deposition of the Bhander Formation; a distance of at least 1800 km) during the sedimentation of the Upper Vindhyan rocks.…”

Palaeomagnetic results from two basic volcanic formations in the western Himalayas and a Phanerozoic polar wandering curve for India

“…(a) In order that India may be correctly juxtaposed in the reconstruction of Gondwanaland (McElhinny 1973;Wensink 1973;Klootwijk 1973;Embleton & Valencio 1977, for example).…”