Palaeomagnetism of the Sarmatian-Maeotian of the Eastern Paratethys: Remagnetization or Not?

Abstract—We present the rock-magnetic and palaeomagnetic results of the Sarmatian-Maeotian (Upper Miocene) sediments of the key sections of Cape Popov Kamen and Cape Panagia from Taman Peninsula (Eastern Paratethys) and forming the flanks of a single synclinal fold. A three-component composition of magnetization has been detected. The first is the viscous component A, the second is the component B, which is intermediate between the components A and the third component C, which tends to zero in the Zijderveld diagram. The directions of component B are characterized by northern–northeastern–eastern declinations and positive inclinations in the stratigraphic coordinate system; the fold test for the Popov Kamen and Panagia results is negative, and the magnetization is post-folding. The directions of component C have negative inclinations and southern declinations in the stratigraphic coordinate system. Paleomagnetic results for two sections showed the test fold positive, magnetization preliminary and the magnetization is pre-folding. Components B and C, on the basis of which the polarity of the magnetozones is determined, are of different ages, and the palaeomagnetic record of component B is the result of complete or partial remagnetization, which makes it impossible to use magnetostratigraphy for section dating. Our work affects an important question about the reliability of palaeomagnetic data on the Miocene deposits of the Kerch-Taman region (Eastern Paratethys). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]