Rotational deformation during Palaeogene thrusting and basin closure in eastern central Greece: palaeomagnetic evidence from Mesozoic carbonates

Palaeomagnetic studies in Greece have concentrated upon Neogene sequences, with Mesozoic rocks of mainland Greece receiving little attention. The Neogene data base is now sufficiently extensive, however, to allow meaningful interpretation of older units. This paper presents new palaeomagnetic data from Mesozoic and Tertiary sequences of eastern central Greece, which document a pre-Neogene phase cf rotational deformation. Mesozoic carbonates have been sampled within the classic Pelagonian Zone in the Argolis Peninsula, Beotia and Evvia. Pelagonian sequences record the development, drowning and subsequent re-establishment of a carbonate platform separating two strands of the Neotethys Ocean (the Pindos and Vardar basins). Most platformal facies are tdo weakly magnetized for palaeomagnetic analysis. However, pelagic horizons consisting of pink condensed limestones have been deposited periodically in response to platform subsidence. These Middle-Late Triassic, Jurassic and Upper Cretaceous sequences yield high-quality palaeomagnetic data, which reveal a consistent clockwise rotation of about 94". The constancy of rotation angle deduce