Palaeomagnetism of the Stephano-Autunian Lower Tiguentourine formations from stable Saharan craton (Algeria)

Palaeomagnetic studies have been carried out in a Stephano-Autunian formation of the Saharan craton. Despite the presence of a strong recent magnetic overprint, some samples give a well-defined characteristic remanent magnetization direction. Moreover, a new approach using the remagnetization circles has been used to confirm the significance of this direction. The obtained Stephano-Autunian pole (35.3°S, 60.3°E) allows a substantial improvement of the apparent polar wander path (APWP) for stable Africa. This APWP clearly shows that the clockwise rotation of Africa, which occured during the Hercynian orogeny, was stopped during the Stephano-Autunian period.