The Determination of “Paleolongitude” and Its Geophysical Application to the Bonin Islands

Abstract

A change in the declination of magnetization with plate rotation has been quantitatively estimated. This effect should be taken into consideration in discussing the tectonic rotation of a given region in paleomagnetism. Unless there has been tectonic rotation of the region we can determine the “paleolongitude” from this calculation. An attempt to determine the “paleolongitude” has been made in the case of Chichijima in the Bonin islands. In comparison with the declination calculated from the geomagnetic anomalies on Chichijima, we discuss the possibility that the Bonin islands have drifted from the Pacific Ocean.