Paleomagnetism of Cryogenian Kitoi mafic dykes in South Siberia: Implications for Neoproterozoic paleogeography

• We studied paleomagnetically 760 Ma mafic dykes from southern Siberia.
• The primary remanence is supported by the contact test.
• New data suggest transpressional movement of Siberia closer to Laurentia by 760 Ma.

We present a new paleomagnetic pole of 1.1°N, 22.4°E, A95 = 7.4° from the 760 Ma gabbro-dolerite Kitoi dykes located in the southern part of the Siberian Craton. The pole is supported by contact tests and suggests closer position of Siberia relative to Laurentia at 760 Ma than in Mesoproterozoic. We propose that this closer configuration was achieved by dextral transpressive motion of Siberia relative to Laurentia between 780 and 760 Ma. This motion was probably initiated at the first stage of the Rodinia breakup and is coeval with the 780 Ma Gunbarrel magmatic event of the western Canadian shield.