Paleomagnetic Constraints from 925 Ma Mafic Dykes in North China and Brazil: Implications for the Paleogeography of Rodinia

Coeval Neoproterozoic mafic dykes with a well-constrained isotopic age of 925 Ma are distributed in the North China Craton (NCC) of China and Sao Francisco Craton (SFC) of Brazil. Several recent studies favor the hypothesis that these two cratons were connected during 925 Ma and constituted building cratons for the supercontinent Rodinia. However, the paleo-positions of the two cratons in Rodinia have not yet been paleomagnetically resolved. This paper presents the paleomagnetic results of these dykes in both NCC and SFC. Detailed thermal and alternating-field demagnetization revealed that these dykes record stable components of magnetization with unblocking temperatures below the Curie temperature of magnetite. Rock magnetic results and scanning electron microscope analysis further confirm that the major magnetic minerals in dyke samples are pseudo-single domain titanomagnetites. The mean directions of the characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) of the dykes are distinct from those of rocks of different ages in the sampling localities, and are supported by positive baked contact tests, indicating primary remanent magnetization. The ChRM of the SFC dykes also exhibits dual polarity. Our results suggest that the NCC and SFC were in the moderate to high paleolatitudes of the Southern Hemisphere during approximately 925 Ma, suggesting a possible paleogeographic connection between the two cratons. A new paleogeographic reconstruction of both cratons during 925 Ma is proposed, which is supported by other geological evidence.