Palaeomagnetism of Early Cretaceous Sedimentary Rocks in Chingyo-Sach'ŏn Area, Southwestern Kyŏngsang Basin

경상분지 남서부 진교-사천 지역 전기백악기 퇴적암에 대한 고자기 연구

A total of 264 independently oriented core samples were collected from 26 sites in the southwestern part (the Naktong Trough) of the Cretaceous $Ky{\check{o}}ngsang$ Basin in south Korea. The sampled formations comprise the sedimentary Shindong and the Hayang Groups of the Lower Cretaceous age. Alternating field and thermal demagnetizations were conducted. Characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) was relatively easily isolated in each formation except in the Chinju formation, from which only remagnetization circles were observed. Even though an extensive use of the fold test was not possible due to the nearly homoclinal nature of the strata in the area, we believe that the ChRM of each formation is of primary origin based on the following grounds: The in-situ ChRM direction of each formation is different from the present geomagnetic field direction. Fisherian precision parameter becomes enhanced through the tilt correction in all formations, closely to the values required for a positive fold test. Three out of the five studied formations pass the reversal test. The mean palaeomagnetic pole position from the studied area is found to be statistically different from the contemporary pole from the Chinese block exclusive of the Shandong area. The difference in magnetic declination suggests a $14.5^{\circ}$ (${\pm}10.5^{\circ}$) clockwise rotation of the studied area relative to the Chinese block comprising the west of the Tan-Lu fault. On the other hand, any significant difference in magnetic inclination and concurrent palaeolatitude is not observed between the studied area and China as well as the other area (Taegu-Andong area) in the $Ky{\check{o}}ngsang$ Basin. The dual nature of the magnetic polarity confirmed in all formations suggests an older than 124 Ma (Neocomian or older) age of the studied sedimentary strata.