MAGNETOBIOSTRATIGRAPHY OF THE SPATHIAN TO ANISIAN (LOWER TO MIDDLE TRIASSIC) KCIRA SECTION, ALBANIA

Magnetobiostratigraphic data are presented from three Early/Middle Tri assic Han-Bulog Limestone successions from Kcira, northern Albania. A total of 206 standard palaeomagnetic samples were obtained for thermal demagnetization and statistical analysis from the 42, 10 and 5 m thic k sections. The reversal-bearing characteristic component, carried by haematite and magnetite, defines a composite sequence of six main pola rity intervals (Kc1n to Kc3r) in which are embedded four short polarit y intervals, one at the base of Kc1n and three towards the top of Kc1r . The early acquisition of the characteristic remanence is supported b y the lateral correlation of magnetozones between sections. The Early/ Middle Triassic boundary, approximated by the first occurrence of the conodont Chiosella timorensis, falls close to the Kc1r/Kc2n polarity t ransition. This is in good agreement with recently published magnetobi ostratigraphic data from the coeval Chios (Greece) sections. The palae omagnetic pole calculated from the Kcira characteristic directions lie s close to the Triassic portion of the apparent polar wander path for Laurussia (in European coordinates). However, a 40-45 degrees clockwis e rotation of the external zone of the Albano-Hellenic Belt to the sou th of the Scutari-Pec Line is thought to have occurred since the Early -Middle Miocene. The Kcira pole acquires a West Gondwana affinity when restored for the Neogene clockwise rotation. If the clockwise rotatio n was entirely related to Neogene tectonics, the Kcira area was eviden tly associated with West Gondwana and located at 12-16 degrees N of th e western Tethys margin.