A Late Pleistocene clockwise rotation phase of Zakynthos (Greece) and implications for the evolution of the western Aegean arc

Palaeomagnetic measurements have been carried out on Eocene to Pleistocene sediments on the Ionian island of Zakynthos, NW Greece. Magnetostratigraphi c constraints, biostratigraphic analyses of planktonic foraminifera and cal careous nannofossils provide a reliable time frame for these deposits. The results show that no significant rotation occurred between 8.11 and 0.77 Ma , but that Zakynthos underwent a 21.6 degrees +/- 7.4 degrees clockwise rot ation between 0.77 Ma and Recent. Thus, our data indicate a rapid rotationa l event, in contrast to continuous rotation since 5 Ma as previously postul ated [Laj et al., Tectonophysics 86 (1982) 45-67]. We speculate this late P leistocene tectonic rotation phase to be linked to rapid uplift in the Gree k region which results from rebound processes caused by (African) slab deta chment underneath the Ionian islands. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All ri ghts reserved.