Preliminary paleomagnetic results from the Permian Asitka Group, British Columbia
Tuffs, rhyolites, and basalts collected at seven sites (25 samples) in the Early Permian Asitka Group of Stikinia have similar paleomagnetic inclinations, and corresponding paleolatitudes of 23 ± 6, 21 ± 4, and 23 ± 5 °respectively. Both polarities occur, so the paleolatitudes could be either north or south of the paleoequator, although the polarity bias favours the former option. The paleolatitude expected for the sampling region is 27 ± 4°N. Adopting the paleomagnetically more probable northern option, the mean displacement relative to the North American craton is 5 ± 6°, indicating that Stikinia was in much the same latitudinal position relative to the craton during the Early Permian as it is at present, although possibly somewhat to the south. The declinations are in poor agreement, indicating that relative rotations occurred in this faulted terrane.