The paleomagnetism of the Aden volcanics

The directions and intensities of the natural remanent magnetization of 164 specimens from twelve sites in the Aden Volcanics have been measured. The stability of these directions in strong alternating fields is demonstrated. The results, besides providing the first information about the secular variation and reversals of the earth's magnetic field in low latitudes during the late Cenozoic, were also found to be of interest in connection with the origin of the Red Sea. The directions deviate systematically from true north, the average declination being N7°W. This deviation could be due to an anticlockwise rotation of Arabia, relative to Africa, by an amount sufficient to account for the formation of the Red Sea. However, explanations other than rotation are possible, and these cannot be tested until results are available from northeast Africa.