Middle Triassic palaeomagnetic data from northern Bulgaria: constraints on Tethyan magnetostratigraphy and palaeogeography

Magnetostratigraphic and biostratigraphic data are presented from the Anisian (Middle Triassic) Peri-Tethyan Edivetur section of northwestern Bulgaria. A dual-polarity component of magnetization carried by magnetite delineates a magnetic stratigraphy of mainly reversed polarity. Magnetozones are dated by means of foraminifer and conodont biostratigraphy. Data from Edivetur are compared with data from Middle Triassic Tethyan limestone sections with the aim of contributing to the completion of the Middle Triassic magnetic polarity time scale. We also propose that paleomagnetic data from Edivetur can be used as proxy data for the paleogeographic position of the Moesian platform. The Moesian platform was located at 21-24°N along the southern margin of Europe. It was probably marginally separated, but not detached or rotated away from Europe by the North Dobrugea transtensional trough, which is interpreted as a back-arc basin resulting from the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys (Vardar) or Paleo-Tethys ocean. Paleomagnetic data from this study and other minor tectonic elements are used to generate a paleogeographic sketch map of the Pangea-bounded western Tethys and Peri-Tethys at Middle/early Late Triassic time. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.