Magnetostratigraphy of young Pliocene volcanics at Santo Antao, Cape Verdeislands: The Escabecada and Cha de Morte profiles

Palaeomagnetic investigations of the lava flows in two profiles on the isla nd of Sao Antao are presented. It is concluded that the ca. 290 m Cha de Mo rte-Profile is dominantly of reverse polarity, equivalent to a Lower Matuya ma age (between 2.1 and 2.6 Ma). The slightly older Escabecada Profile, cov ering 15 lava flows, ca. 110m, shows reverse polarity in the top flows, and a dominant normal polarity in the lower flows, suggesting an age between 2 .5 to 3 Ma, equivalent to the older part of Matuyama and the younger part o f Gauss (marine chron C2An.ln). A minimum eruption frequency of the lava fl ows in the Escabecada Profile, equivalent to one flow every 15.0 +/- ca. 5 Ka, is suggested. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.