Paleomagnetism of Permo-Triassic and Cretaceous rocks from the Antofagasta region, northern Chile

•Paleomagnetism of Permo-Triassic and Cretaceous rocks.•Tectonics of northern Chile.•Clockwise vertical-axis rotations.

New paleomagnetic data from Permo-Triassic and Late Cretaceous rocks yield a consistent trend of vertical-axis-tectonic-rotations which are consistent with the Central Andean Rotation Pattern (CARP). However, three sites in the Tuina Formation and one site in the Purilactis Group record large rotations (80°). These mayor rotations are probably due to dextral-transpressive deformation occurring in close relation with the Incaic tectonic phase. Consequently, it is possible to infer that previous tectonic phases Peruvian and K-T would not have produced significant tectonic rotations in the area.