Palaeomagnetic data from fault rocks along major faults in the Laerdal-Gjen
de Fault System cutting the Caledonian structure in the Jotunheimen area of
central south Norway reveals a multicomponent remanence pattern. Sample an
d site-mean directions from the fault rocks obtained by thermal cleaning de
monstrate a simple pattern of normal polarity low blocking components and r
everse polarity high-blocking directions. The magnetic signature of the Lae
rdal-Gjende Fault System fault rocks is identical to that observed on brecc
ias on late faults along the west coast of Norway. Based on available palae
omagnetic reference data, we assign ages of mid-late Permian and late Juras
sic-early Cretaceous for important phases of faulting and breccia formation
along the Laerdal-Gjende Fault System in central south Norway. Structural
windows, partly exposing basement along the axis of the Caledonides in sout
hern Norway were exhumed by footwall uplift on major faults in the Laerdal-
Gjende Fault System. The consanguinity of fault rock data from the Laerdal-
Gjende Fault System and fault rocks in western Norway, and comparison with
displacement on the offshore continuation of the Laerdal-Gjende Fault Syste
m along the Hardangerfjorden Shear Zone, indicate that the main tectonic ev
ents responsible for the development of the North Sea basin also significan
tly affected the geology of central south Norway.