The introduction of the concept of a paleomagnetic Euler pole (PEP) to the analysis of the apparent polar (APW) path for North America has resulted in significant differences from most previous and widely used empirical APW paths, particularly in the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic. Because of the fundamental role of APW paths in geodynamic interpretations, these differences have important implications regarding plate kinematics, terrane displacements and paleogeography. There are however critical uncertainties in judging the reliability of the relatively few Late Triassic and Early Jurassic paleopoles that are available. New, well-dated reference paleopoles are therefor needed for this time interval to resolve these ambiguities and to test the potentially powerful PEP model. This project was a detailed paleomagnetic study of the Newark Supergroup. These rocks are exposed in some 20 basins along eastern North America and represent a virtually complete and well-dated stratigraphic succession from at least the middle Carnian (earliest Late Triassic) to the Trocian (late Early Jurassic), the same time interval when current APW paths for the Mesozoic differ the most. Our objective is to obtain a detailed, well-constrained sequence of paleopoles supported by fold and other field test as well as rockmagnetic data, over the stratigraphic range by fold and other field tests as well as rockmagnetic data, over the stratigraphic range represented by the Newark Supergroup. Preliminary paleomagnetic studies on representative sample collections from the Newark, Hartford, Wadesboro and Fundy basins demonstrated the feasibility of this objective. The pattern of paleopole migration derived from this study should allow a convincing test of PEP models of APW and in any case contribute to the refinement of a problematical segment of the APW path for North America.
