The Precambrian-cambrian Boundary Problem: Paleomagnetic Directions from the Amadeus Basin, Central Australia

Late Precambrian to early Cambrian sediments of the Amadeus Basin, Central Australia, contain two stable directions of magnetization. Lithologies are diverse and include red beds, green beds, and carbonates, all of which respond to thermal cleaning. Positive fold and unconformity tests, and a well-defined polarity zonation reveal the primary component and direction of magnetization. This direction lies between those reported for the Proterozoic lower Pound Quartzite and the lower Cambrian Antrim Plateau Volcanics of Australia. Poles calculated from the primary direction of magnetization for three stratigraphic units in the sequence overlap at the 95% confidence level, indicating that little apparent polar wander occurred in the Australian part of Gondwana at this time.