Paleomagnetism of the Permian De la Cuesta formation (Narváez Range, NW Argentina): Apparent polar wander path and paleogeography of Gondwana and Pangea

Permian times were characterized by distribution of land masses forming a supercontinent called Pangea. Although its existence has been accepted for many decades, there is still debate about its configuration. In order to provide new constraints on the position of Gondwana during late Paleozoic times, a paleomagnetic study was carried out on Carboniferous-Permian red beds exposed in the Famatinian Ranges, western Argentina (27°43′S 67°58′W). Eighty four oriented samples (11 sites) were submitted to standard stepwise demagnetization procedures. Magnetic analysis was complemented by acquisition of isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM), backfield curves and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) on selected specimens. Inclination shallowing due to compaction was evaluated by application of oriented acquisition of IRM and demagnetization experiments. The high-temperature magnetic components of sites are characterized by southward declinations with positive inclinations that yield a positive fold test. A new paleomagnetic pole is calculated and suggests an age of magnetization between 300 and 270 Ma, thatmatches with a Pangea B distribution although a Pangea A2 model can not be ruled out if the magnetization age is restricted to 280-270 Ma.