Paleomagnetism of the Jurassic complex of the southern slope of the Scythian platform (Tahirjalchay basin, Azerbaijan)

Abstract The article presents a detailed stratigraphical division of the Jurassic rock formations on the northern edge of the Great Caucasus Sea Basin in Azerbaijan. The stratigraphy of Jurassic rocks in this region, which corresponds to the southern margin of the Scythian platform, has not been well studied. On the other hand, paleomagnetic research has never been conducted in this area before. The studied region is located on the northern flank of the southeastern part of the mountain-folded system of the Greater Caucasus. To study the paleomagnetic properties of Jurassic rocks, 80 oriented samples were collected from the Tahirjalchay section. The magnetic susceptibility and the natural remnant magnetization of the deposits vary between 0.6 x 10-3 - 1.6 x 10-3 BS and 2.9 x 10-3 - 16.9 x 10-3 A/m, respectively. The average value of the permanent component indicates that the magnetization is close to its initial value and can therefore be used to compile a paleomagnetic profile. Based on paleomagnetic data, for the first time, the kinematic parameters of the Jurassic tectonic blocks on the southern margin of the Scythian Platform were studied. Analysis of the research materials reveals the extent of the angular displacement of the block. In the magnetostratigraphic analysis of the Tahirjalchay section, a total of 5 direct magnetization zones and 5 reverse zones were identified. Using these magnetic zones, the boundaries between different stratigraphic units were determined: Aalenian-Bajocian; Bajocian-Bathonian; Bathonian - Callovian; Callovian - Oxfordian; Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian.