The palaeomagnetism of the Ethiopian flood basalt succession near Addis Ababa

Abstract

Measurements on samples from 20 sites in the Ethiopian flood basalt succession yield a palaeomagnetic pole at 80.8° N, 167.7° E with a circle of confidence of 4.3°. The pole for these rocks is significantly different from the present geographic pole, and is in general agreement with other results from Miocene formations in Africa. The results jointly suggest that the palaeomagnetic pole for Africa was displaced from the present pole by about 6° for most of the mid-Tertiary (Eocene to Miocene).