Paleomagnetism and Petrochemistry of Sandstones from the Gorinskaya and Pionerskaya Formations, Zhuravlevka–Amurian Terrane (Northern Sikhote Alin)

Abstract

The first paleomagnetic and petrochemical data on the Lower Cretaceous sedimentary rocks of the Komsomolsk Series from the Zhuravlevka–Amurian turbidite paleobasin are presented. The rocks are collected in coastal outcrops of Sakhalin Bay (54.09° N, 140.05° E). The studies reveal that (1) the petrochemical characteristics of the sedimentary rocks of the Gorinskaya and Pionerskaya formations (Berriasian–Valanginian) do not contradict the model of their formation in a setting of the transform continental margin; (2) the paleolatitude at which they attained pre-folding paleomagnetic direction (Dec = 303°, Inc = 27°, Ks/Kg = 6.2) was 10–18° N; (3) in the post-Valanginian time, before 95 Ma B.P., the block including these rocks moved northward by 3900–4800 km along the Eurasian transform continental margin at a mean rate of about 10–13 cm/yr.