Palaeomagnetic studies in the Permian Basin of Largentiere and implications for the Late Variscan rotations in the French Massif Central

Detailed geological observations and palaeomagnetic analyses were carried out in the Largentiere Stephano-Autunian basin and on the Stephanian deposits of the Ales coalfield, both located at the southeastern margin of the French Massif Central. Because of unfavourable rock types, the Ales Stephanian deposits did not yield any results. The palaeomagnetic pole (164.9 degrees E, 45.4 degrees N, K = 89, A(95) = 4.1 degrees) deduced from a study of the Autunian sediments of the Largentiere Basin agrees very well with the reference pole for stable Europe. The Lodeve-Largentiere area, that is the southeastern border of the Massif Central, has been stable since Early Permian time with respect to stable Europe, whereas the western part (the Saint-Affrique Rodez Basin and, probably, the Brive Basin) has been rotated counterclockwise.