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Rocks from subvolcanic silicic magmatism (SSM) are exposed intermittently over a wide area along the Sonora coast, NW Mexico. This region is characterized by syn-rift volcanism related to the development of the Pacific-North America transform plate boundary during the Late Miocene (~12.5-~6 Ma). The ca. 11 Ma U-Pb age obtained from the SSM in the study area makes this magmatism part of the first stages of this tectonic event. Variations in magnetic mineralogy and textural relationships of the SSM suggest that they are a hypabyssal suite emplaced at distinctive depths. The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility used for the petrofabric analysis reveals that, generally, the magnetic lineation is subparallel to the magnetic foliation and both are subhorizontal, suggesting a lateral emplacement. Palaeomagnetic analysis of 31 sites on the intrusive bodies indicates clockwise vertical axis rotations up to 90�� related to dextral strike-slip faults. The fieldwork observations, magnetic fabric orientation, and the distribution of the SSM suggest that the magmas were propagated in a transtensional setting ascending probably through tension gashes from a deep main magma body, and emplaced as sheet intrusions in the syn-rift volcanic sequence. We propose that the vertical axis rotations of the SSM bodies are part of a unique transtensional-type deformation system of the oblique-divergent plate boundary, which it gradually changed. The SSM rocks are distinguished from other plutonic rocks forming most of the basement of NW Mexico by their age, distribution, emplacement environment, and deformation style. Finally, this study provides compelling evidence of igneous plumbing system within rift zones and a valuable contribution to the history of magmatism and tectonic control related to the development of the oblique rifting in the Gulf of California plate boundary.

1 p.; International audience; The Patagonian plateau basalts are a sequence of flat-lying Late Cretaceous through Tertiary basaltic and andesitic rocks exposed east of the Andes in dissected mesetas of Chilean and Argentine Patagonia. The plateau basalts cover a total area of 120,000 km2 between 40°S and 52°S. These igneous rocks rest on generally flatlying older Mesozoic silicic volcanic or sedimentary rocks. Of major importance to the paleomagnetic investigation is the lack of significant tectonic disturbance of this portion of Patagonia from Late Cretaceous to present. 12 sites (107 cores) have been sampled in the Tertiary (Paleocene to Miocene) volcanic rocks between 43°S and 46°S in latitude and between 68°W and 70°W in longitude. Rocks are usually very fresh but, as they outcrop generally on top of the mesas, few hundred meters above the Plateau, remagnetization by lightning strikes is a major problem of the paleomagnetic analysis. Paleomagnetic, rock magnetic and paleointensity results will be presented.

We present here new paleointensity and geochronology results from Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks of Sierra Chica de Cordoba (Argentina). The new K-Ar isotopic ages of 5 samples range from 136 to 122 Ma. Twenty five samples from 7 individual flows yielded acceptable paleointensity estimates. The mean paleointensity values per flow are ranging from 53.0±1.9 to 25.4±2.6 μT and the corresponding Virtual Dipole Moments (VDMs) are ranging from 9.3±1.3 to 4.6±0.5 (1022 Am2). This corresponds to the mean value of 7.3±1.7x1022 Am2, which is compatible to the present geomagnetic axial dipole. Currently available selected paleointensity data from 80 to 130 Ma suggest that geomagnetic field strength frequently fluctuated before and during the Cretaceous Normal Superchron while the magnetic polarity maintained stable. The mean paleointensities derived from Cordoba lavas agree remarkably well with those obtained from the Parana Magmatic Province (133-132 Ma). This reinforces the hypothesis about the unreliability of ‘Mesozoic Dipole Low'. © 2006, The Seismological Society of Japan, Society of Geomagnetism and Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences, The Volcanological Society of Japan, The Geodetic Society of Japan, The Japanese Society for Planetary Sciences. All rights reserved. Fil:Geuna, S.E. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.