Reply to comment by J. G. Meert and R. Van der Voo on ‘New palaeomagnetic result from Vendian red sediments in Cisbaikalia and the problem of the relationship of Siberia and Laurentia in the Vendian’

Two competing Paleomagnetic directions in the Late Vendian: New data for the SW Region of the Siberian Platform

“…However, even in this case the pole of the B1 component resides at some distance from the Early Cambrian poles proposed earlier [Kirschvink and Rozanov, 1984;Pavlov et al, 2004;Pisarevsky et al,, 1997], this providing a basis for the early formation of the B1 component.…”

“…In most cases no tests were made to verify the primary character of the paleomagnetic directions obtained. One of the best determinations (in paleomagnetic aspect), obtained for the Baikal region [Pisarevsky et al, 2000], cannot apparently be classified as a "Siberian" pole, since the study object resides in the zone of intensive Paleozoic deformation and in accordance with the data of structural-geological researches [Aleksandrov et al, 2001;Malykh, 1997] has an allochthonous position.…”

“…These regions include the peripheral part of the platform in its southwestern area, its northeastern area (Kharaulakh Mts. ), the Patom Highland, the Udzha and Olenek uplifts, the Uchur-Maya region, and other areas [Gurevich, 1981[Gurevich, , 1983Komissarova, 1983Komissarova, , 1984Komissarova, , 1991Komissarova and Osipova, 1986;Konstantinov, 1998;Kravchinsky et al, 2001;Pavlov and Petrov, 1997; 1681-1208 (online) al., 2004; Pisarevsky et al, 2000;Rodionov, 1984;Shatsillo et al, 2001]. However, in spite of the numerous studies that have been carried out for more than thirty years, the position of the Vendian paleomagnetic pole of Siberia has not been determined unambiguously.…”

“…[4] In the recent years a number of new papers has been published on the paleomagnetism of the Vendian rocks of Siberia; the data they reported had been obtained in accordance with the modern requirements for methods and instruments (detailed magnetic cleaning, component analysis, etc.) [Konstantinov, 1998;Kravchinsky et al, 2001;Pisarevsky et al, 2000]. However, even these paleomagnetic determinations have a number of drawbacks.…”

“…[61] It is somewhat more difficult to correlate the B1 component with the Early Cambrian pole of the platform (Figure 13), because the position of the latter is a subject of hot discussion, for example, see [Pisarevsky et al, 1997;Smethurst et al, 1998a]. However, even in this case the pole of the B1 component resides at some distance from the Early Cambrian poles proposed earlier [Kirschvink and Rozanov, 1984;Pavlov et al, 2004;Pisarevsky et al,, 1997], this providing a basis for the early formation of the B1 component.…”