Published Magnetic Picks for Tectonic Reconstruction

PIs: P. Wessel (SOEST, U of Hawaii) and R. D. Müller (U of Sydney)
Contributors: M. Seton (U of Sydney), J. Whittaker (U of Tasmania), S. Williams (U of Sydney), N. Wright (U of Sydney)
C. DeMets (U of Wisconsin), S. Merkouriev (Russian Acad. Sci.), S. C. Cande (Scripps Institution of Oceanography), C. Gaina (U. Oslo), G. Eagles (Alfred Wegener Inst.), R. Granot (Ben Gurion U.), J. Stock (Caltech)

Updated 17 July, 2018
North Atlantic Fracture Zone

What is this site?

This is a collection of published magnetic anomaly and fracture zone picks. For more information, see

Seton, M., J. Whittaker, P. Wessel, R. D. Müller, C. DeMets, S. Merkouriev, S. Cande, C. Gaina, G. Eagles, R. Granot, J. Stock, N. Wright, S. Williams, 2014, Community infrastructure and repository for marine magnetic identifications, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 5(4), 1629-1641, DOI lookup DOI:10.1002/2013GC005176


Recent Activity

Alphabetical List of Publications with Data

The data are organized per ocean basin and offers basin-wide compilations as well as files per reference. The magnetic pick data are distributed in three file formats:
  1. ESRI Shapefiles. These can be ingested by most GIS tools.
  2. GMT/OGR ASCII tables. These can be used by GMT and other tools.
  3. KML files. These can be read by Google Earth and similar tools.
Click on the corresponding logos to download, use DOI lookup to look up the article at the publisher, and use PNG map to see a PNG map of a particular data set.

Global Compilations of Reconstruction Data:

Format Description
ZIP download Global compilation as one shapefile
KML download Global compilation as one KML file
GMT download Global compilation as one GMT/OGR file

Regional Compilations of Reconstruction Data:

ZIP KML GMT Region
ZIP download KML download GMT download All published magnetic picks for the Atlantic Ocean
ZIP download KML download GMT download All published magnetic picks for the Indian Ocean
ZIP download KML download GMT download All published magnetic picks for the Pacific Ocean
ZIP download KML download GMT download All published magnetic picks for the Marginal Basins

Atlantic Ocean Reconstruction Data (19 individual publications):

DOI PNG ZIP KML GMT Complete Citation
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Cande, S. C., J. L. LaBrecque, and W. F. Haxby (1988), Plate kinematics of the South Atlantic: Chron C34 to present, J. Geophys. Res., 93, 13479-13413,13492.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Eagles, G., and B. G. C. Scott (2014), Plate convergence west of Patagonia and the Antarctic Peninsula since 61 Ma, Global and Planetary Change, 123, Part B, 189-198 [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Eagles, G. (2016), Plate kinematics of the Rocas Verdes Basin and Patagonian orocline, Gondwana Research, 37, 98-109 [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Gaina, C., W. R. Roest, and R. D. Müller (2002), Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic deformation of northeast Asia, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 197, 273-286 [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Gaina, C., L. Gernigon, and P. Ball (2009), Palaeocene-Recent plate boundaries in the NE Atlantic and the formation of the Jan Mayen microcontinent, J. Geol. Soc., 166, 601
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Granot, R. and J. Dyment (2015), The Cretaceous opening of the South Atlantic Ocean, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 414, 156-163
DOI not available PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Klitgord, K., and H. Schouten (1986), Plate kinematics of the central Atlantic, in The Western North Atlantic Region, DNAG, ed. by P. R. Vogt and B. E. Tucholke, pp. 351-378, Geol. Soc. Am., Boulder, CO [Note: this reference only includes data south of 55°N]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Kovacs, L. C., P. Morris, J. Brozena, and A. Tikku (2002), Seafloor spreading in the Weddell Sea from magnetic and gravity data, Tectonophysics, 347, 43-64
DOI not available PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download LaBrecque, J. L., and S. C. Cande (1986), Total intensity magnetic anomaly profiles, Northwest Ocean Margin Drilling Program, Regional Data Synthesis Series, Atlas 13, S, Atlantic Ocean and Adjacent Antarctic Continental Margin.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download LaBrecque, J. L., and D. E. Hayes (1979), Seafloor spreading history of the Agulhas Basin, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 45, 411-428
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Livermore, R., A. Nankivell, G. Eagles, P. Morris (2005), Paleogene opening of Drake Passage, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 236,459-470
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Marks, K. and J. Stock (2001), Evolution of the Malvinas Plate South of Africa, Mar. Geophys. Res., 22(4), 289-302 [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Martin, A., S. Goodlad, C. Hartnady, and A. Du Plessis (1982), Cretaceous palaeopositions of the Falkland Plateau relative to southern Africa using Mesozoic seafloor spreading anomalies, Geophys. J. Int., 7, 567-579.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Merkouriev, S. and C. DeMets (2008), A high-resolution model for Eurasia-North America plate kinematics since 20 Ma, Geophys. J. Int., 173(3), 1064-1083 [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Merkouriev, S., and C. DeMets, (2013), High-resolution estimates of Nubia-North plate motion: 20 Ma to present, Geophys. J. Int., 196(3), 1281-1298 [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Müller, R. D., S. C. Cande, J.-Y. Royer, W. R. Roest, and S. Maschenkov (1999), New constraints on the Late Cretaceous/Tertiary plate tectonic evolution of the Caribbean, in Caribbean Basins, edited by P. Mann, pp. 39-55, Elsevier, Amsterdam
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Pérez-Díaz, L., and G. Eagles (2014), Constraining South Atlantic growth with seafloor spreading data, Tectonics, 33(9), 1848-1873 [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Rabinowitz, P. D., and J. LaBrecque (1979), The Mesozoic South Atlantic Ocean and evolution of its continental margins, J. Geophys. Res., 84, 5973-6002
DOI not available PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Srivastava, S., and C. Tapscott (1986), Plate kinematics of the North Atlantic, in The Geology of North America, vol. M, The Western North Atlantic Region P. R. Vogt, B. E. Tucholke, 379-404

Indian Ocean Reconstruction Data (27 individual publications):

DOI PNG ZIP KML GMT Complete Citation
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Baines, A. G., M. J. Cheadle, H. J. Dick, A. H. Scheirer, B. E. John, N. J. Kusznir, and T. Matsumoto (2007), Evolution of the Southwest Indian Ridge from 55°45' E to 62°E: Changes in plate-boundary geometry since 26 Ma, Geochem., Geophys., Geosyst., 8.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Cande, S. C., P. Patriat, and J. Dyment (2010), Motion between the Indian, Antarctic and African plates in the early Cenozoic, Geophys. J. Int., 183, 127-149.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Cande, S. C. and P. Patriat (2015), The anticorrelated velocities of Africa and India in the Late Cretaceous and early Cenozoic, Geophys. J. Int., 200, 227-243.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Cande, S. C., and J. M. Stock (2004), Pacific-Antarctic-Australia motion and the formation of the Macquarie Plate, Geophys. J. Int., 157, 399-414. [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Chaubey, A. K., J. Dyment, G. C. Bhattacharya, J. Y. Royer, K. Srinivas, and V. Yatheesh (2003), Paleogene magnetic isochrons and palaeo-propagators in the Arabian and Eastern Somali basins, NW Indian Ocean, Geol. Soc. Lond. Spec. Publ., 195, 71-85. [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Davis, J.K., Lawver, L.A., Norton, I.O., Gahagan, L.M. (2016), New Somali Basin magnetic anomalies and a plate model for the early Indian Ocean, Gondwana. Res., 34, 16-28.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download DeMets, C., Gordon, R. G., and Royer, J.-Y. (2005), Motion between the Indian, Capricorn, and Somalian plates since 20 Ma: implications for the timing and magnitude of distributed deformation in the equatorial Indian ocean, Geophys. J. Int., 161, 445-468 [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Eagles, G., and H. H. Hoang (2013), Cretaceous to present kinematics of the Indian, African and Seychelles plates, Geophys. J. Int., ggt372.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Eagles, G., and M. König (2008), A model of plate kinematics in Gondwana breakup, Geophys. J. Int., 17, 703-717.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Eagles, G., and A. D. Wibisono (2013), Ridge push, mantle plumes and the speed of the Indian plate, Geophys. J. Int.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Fournier, M., Chamot-Rooke, N., Petit, C., Huchon, P., Al-Kathiri, A., Audin, L., Beslier, M.-O., d'Acremont, E., Fabbri, O., Fleury, J.-M., Khanbari, K., Lepvrier, C., Leroy, S., Maillot, B. and Merkouriev, S. (2010), Arabia-Somalia plate kinematics, evolution of the Aden-Owen-Carlsberg triple junction, and opening of the Gulf of Aden, J. Geophys. Res., 115, B04102 [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Gaina, C., Müller, R. D., Brown, B., Ishihara, T., and Ivanov, S. (2007), Breakup and early seafloor spreading between India and Antarctica, J. Geophys. J. Int., 170(1), 151-169 [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Gaina, C., Hinsbergen, D. J., and Spakman, W. (2015), Tectonic interactions between India and Arabia since the Jurassic reconstructed from marine geophysics, ophiolite geology, and seismic tomography, Tectonics, 34, 875-906 [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Gibbons, A.D., Whittaker, J.M., Müller, R.D. (2013), The breakup of East Gondwana: assimilating constraints from Cretaceous ocean basins around India into a best-fit tectonic model, J. Geophys. Res., 118, 1-15
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Granot, R., Cande, S. C., Stock, J. M., and Damaske, D. (2013), Revised Eocene-Oligocene kinematics for the West Antarctic rift system, Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, 279-284. [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Granot, R., and Dyment, J. (2018), Late Cenozoic unification of East and West Antarctica, Nature Communications.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Jacob, J., J. Dyment, and V. Yatheesh (2014), Revisiting the structure, age, and evolution of the Wharton Basin to better understand subduction under Indonesia, J. Geophys. Res., 119, 169-190. [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Leinweber, V.T. and Jokat, W. (2012), The Jurassic history of the Africa-Antarctica corridor - new constraints from magnetic data on the conjugate continental margins, Tectonophysics, 530-531, 87-101.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Merkouriev, S., and DeMets, C. (2006). Constraints on Indian plate motion since 20 Ma from dense Russian magnetic data: Implications for Indian plate dynamics, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 7, Q02002 [readme]
DOI not available PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Mihut, D., and R. D. Müller (1998), Revised seafloor spreading history of the Argo Abyssal Plain, West Australian Basins Symposium 98, Perth.
DOI not available PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Müller, R. D., D. Mihut, and S. Baldwin (1998), A new kinematic model for the formation and evolution of the Northwest and West Australian margin, in The sedimentary basins of western Australia 2, edited by P. P. G. a. R.R, pp. 55-72, Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia, Perth
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Royer, J.-Y., P. Patriat, H. Bergh, and C. R. Scotese (1988), Evolution of the Southwest Indian Ridge from the Late Cretaceous (anomaly 34) to the middle Eocene (anomaly 20), Tectonophysics, 155, 235-260.
DOI not available PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Ségoufin, J., M. Munschy, P. Bouysse, and V. Mendel (2004), Map of the Indian Ocean (1: 20 000 000), sheet 1:Physiography, sheet 2:Structural map, CGMW Edition, Paris.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Tikku, A. A., and S. C. Cande (1999), The oldest magnetic anomalies in the Australian-Antarctic Basin: Are they isochrons?, J. Geophys. Res., 104, 661-677. [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Veevers, J. (1986), Breakup of Australia and Antarctica estimated as mid-Cretaceous (95±5 Ma) from magnetic and seismic data at the continental margin, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 77, 91-99.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Whittaker, J., R. D. Müller, G. Leitchenkov, H. Stagg, M. Sdrolias, C. Gaina, and A. Goncharov (2007), Major Australian-Antarctica Plate Reorganization at Hawaiian-Emperor Bend Time, Science, 318, 83-86. [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Williams, S. E., J. M. Whittaker, R. Granot, and D. R. Müller (2013), Early India-Australia spreading history revealed by newly detected Mesozoic magnetic anomalies in the Perth Abyssal Plain, J. Geophys. Res., 118, 3275-3284, doi:10.1002/jgrb.50239.

Pacific Ocean Reconstruction Data (46 individual publications):

DOI PNG ZIP KML GMT Complete Citation
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Atwater, T. and J. Severinghaus, (1989), Tectonic maps of the northeast Pacific, in The Eastern Pacific Ocean and Hawaii, 6, ed. by E. L. Winterer, D. M. Hussong and R. W. Decker, pp. 15-20, Geol. Soc. Am., Boulder, Colorado.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Barckhausen, U., C. R. Ranero, R. von Huene, S. C. Cande, and H. A. Roeser (2001), Revised tectonic boundaries in the Cocos plate off Costa Rica: Implications for the segmentation of the convergent margin and for plate tectonic models, J. Geophys. Res., 106(B9), 19,207-19,220.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Barckhausen, U., C. R. Ranero, S. C. Cande, M. Engels, and W. Weinrebe (2008), Birth of an intraoceanic spreading center, Geology, 36(10), 767-770.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Barckhausen, U., M. Bagge, and D. S. Wilson (2013), Seafloor spreading anomalies and crustal ages of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, Mar. Geophys. Res., 1-10.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Bassinger, B., O. DeWald, and G. Peter (1969), Interpretation of the magnetic anomalies off central California, J. Geophys. Res., 74, 1484-1487.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Cande, S. C., E. M. Herron, and B. R. Hall, (1982), The early Cenozoic tectonic history of the southeast Pacific, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 57(1), 63-74.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Cande, S. C., C. A. Raymond, J. Stock, and W. F. Haxby (1995), Geophysics of the Pitman fracture zone and Pacific-Antarctic plate motions during the Cenozoic, Science, 270, 947-953.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Cande, S. C., J. M. Stock, R. D. Müller, and T. Ishihara (2000), Cenozoic motion between East and West Antarctica, Nature, 404, 145-150.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Cande, S. C., and W. F. Haxby (1991), Eocene propagating rifts in the Southwest Pacific and their conjugate features on the Nazca Plate, J. Geophys. Res., 96, 19609-19622.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Cande, S. C., and J. M. Stock (2004), Pacific-Antarctic-Australia motion and the formation of the Macquarie Plate, Geophys. J. Int., 157, 399-414. [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Caress, D. W., H. Menard, and R. Hey (1988), Eocene reorganization of the Pacific-Farallon spreading center north of the Mendocino Fracture Zone, J. Geophys. Res., 93, 2813-2838.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Croon, M. B., S. C. Cande, and J. M. Stock (2008), Revised Pacific-Antarctic plate motions and geophysics of the Menard Fracture Zone, Geochem., Geophys., Geosyst., 9, 7.
DOI not available PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Currie, R. G., and R. Riddihough (1982), Geophysical Surveys in Northeast Pacific: ABSTRACT, AAPG Bulletin, 66(7), 963-963.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Davey, F., S. Cande, and J. Stock (2006), Extension in the western Ross Sea region - links between Adare Basin and Victoria Land Basin, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download DeMets, C., and Traylen, S. (2000), Motion of the Rivera plate since 10 Ma relative to the Pacific and North American plates and the mantle, Tectonophysics, 318, 119-159 [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Eagles, G., K. Gohl, R. D. Larter (2004), Life of the Bellingshausen plate, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L07603
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Eagles, G. (2003), Tectonic evolution of the Antarctic-Phoenix plate system since 15 Ma, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 217, 97-109.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Eakins, B. W., and P. Lonsdale (2003), Structural patterns and tectonic history of the Bauer microplate, Eastern Tropical Pacific, Mar. Geophys. Res., 24, 171-205
DOI not available PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Elvers, D., G. Peter, and R. Moses (1967), Analysis of magnetic lineations in the North Pacific, Trans. Am. Geophys. Union, 48, 89.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Elvers, D., S. Srivastava, K. Potter, J. Morley, and D. Sdidel (1973), Asymmetric spreading across the Juan de Fuca and Gorda rises as obtained from a detailed magnetic survey, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 20, 211-219.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Granot, R., S. C. Cande, and J. S. Gee (2009), The implications of long-lived asymmetry of remanent magnetization across the North Pacific fracture zones, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 288, 551-563.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Granot, R., Cande, S. C., Stock, J. M., and Damaske, D., 2013, Revised Eocene-Oligocene kinematics for the West Antarctic rift system, Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, 279-284. [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Handschumacher, D., R. Pilger, J. A. Foreman, and J. F. Campbell (1981), Structure and evolution of the Easter plate, Mem. Geol. Soc. Am., 154, 63-76.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Handschumacher, D. W. (1976), Post-Eocene plate tectonics of the eastern Pacific, in The geophysics of the Pacific Ocean and its margins, ed. by G. H. Sutton, M. H. Manghnani and R. Moberly, 117-202, AGU, Washington, DC.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Herron, E. M. (1972), Sea-floor spreading and the Cenozoic history of the east-central Pacific, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 83, 1671-1692.
DOI not available PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Keller, W. R. (2004), Cenozoic plate tectonic reconstructions and plate boundary processes in the Southwest Pacific, Ph.D. thesis, Caltech, http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-01102005-223039 [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Klitgord, K. D., and J. Mammerickx (1982), Northern East Pacific Rise: magnetic anomaly and bathymetric framework, J. Geophys. Res., 87, 6725-6750.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Larter, R. D., A. P. Cunningham, P. F. Barker, K. Gohl, and F. O. Nitsche (2002), Tectonic evolution of the Pacific margin of Antarctica 1. Late Cretaceous tectonic reconstructions, J. Geophys. Res., 107, 2345-2345.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Larter, R. D. and P. F. Barker, (1991), Effects of ridge crest-trench interaction on Antarctic-Phoenix Spreading: Forces on a young subducting plate, J. Geophys. Res. 96(B12), 19,583-19,607.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Lonsdale, P. (1985), Nontransform offsets of the Pacific-Cocos plate boundary and their traces on the rise flank, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 96(3), 733-754
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Lonsdale, P. (1988), Paleogene history of the Kula plate: Offshore evidence and onshore implications, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 100(5), 313-327
DOI not available PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Lonsdale, P. (1991), Structural patterns of the Pacific floor offshore of peninsular California, The gulf and peninsular province of the Californias, 47, 87-125
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Lonsdale, P. (2005), Creation of the Cocos and Nazca plates by fission of the Farallon plate, Tectonophysics, 404(3-4),, 237-264
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Mammerickx, J., E. Herron, and L. Dorman (1980), Evidence for two fossil spreading ridges in the southeast Pacific, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 91, 263-271
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Mason, R. G., and A. D. Raff (1961), Magnetic survey off the west coast of North America, 32°N latitude to 42°N latitude, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 72, 1259-1265.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Mayes, C. L., L. A. Lawver, and D. T. Sandwell (1990), Tectonic history and new isochron chart of the South Pacific, J. Geophys. Res., 95, 8543-8567.
DOI not available PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Munschy, M., C. Antoine, and A. Gachon (1996), Tectonic evolution in the Tuamotu Islands Region, Central Pacific Ocean, Comptes Rendus de L Academie Des Sciences Serie II Fascicule A - Sciences de La Terre et Des Planetes, 323, 941-948.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Nakanishi, M., K. Tamaki, and K. Kobayashi (1992), Magnetic anomaly lineations from Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous in the west central Pacific Ocean, Geophys. J. Int., 109, 701-719. [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Pardo-Casas, F., and P. Molnar (1987), Relative motion of the Nazca (Farallon) and South American plates since Late Cretaceous time, Tectonics, 6, 215-232.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Sharman, G., and D. Risch (1988), Northwest Pacific tectonic evolution in the Middle Mesozoic, Tectonophysics, 155, 331-344.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Tebbens, S., S. Cande, L. Kovacs, J. Parra, J. LaBrecque, and H. Vergara (1997), The Chile ridge: A tectonic framework, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 12035-12012,12059.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Tebbens, S. F., and S. C. Cande (1997), Southeast Pacific Tectonic Evolution From Early Oligocene to Present, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 12061-12084.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Vacquier, V., A. D. Raff, and R. E. Warren (1961), Horizontal displacements in the floor of the northeastern Pacific Ocean, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 72, 1251-1258.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Weissel, J. K., D. E. Hayes, and E. M. Herron (1977), Plate tectonics synthesis: The displacements between Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica since the late Cretaceous, Mar. Geol., 25, 231-277.
DOI not available PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Wilder, D. T. (2003), Relative motion history of the Pacific-Nazca (Farallon) plates since 30 million years ago, M.S. Thesis, U. S. Florida. [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Wobbe, F., K. Gohl, A. Chambord, and R. Sutherland (2012), Structure and breakup history of the rifted margin of West Antarctica in relation to Cretaceous separation from Zealandia and Bellingshausen plate motion, Geochem., Geophys., Geosyst., 13.

Marginal Basins Reconstruction Data (16 individual publications):

DOI PNG ZIP KML GMT Complete Citation
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Barker, P. F., and J. Burrell (1977), The opening of Drake passage, Mar. Geol., 25(1), 15-34.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Barker, P. F. (1972), A spreading centre in the east Scotia sea, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 15 (2), 123-132.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Briais, A., P. Patriat, and P. Tapponnier (1993), Updated interpretation of magnetic anomalies and seafloor spreading stages in the South China Sea: Implications for the Tertiary tectonics of Southeast Asia, J. Geophys. Res., 98(B4), 6299-6328.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Doo, W.-B., S.-K. Hsu, Y.-C. Yeh, C.-H. Tsai, and C.-M. Chang (2014), Age and tectonic evolution of the northwest corner of the West Philippine Basin, Marine Geophys. Res., 36 (2-3), 113-125. [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Eagles, G., R. A. Livermore, J. D. Fairhead, and P. Morris (2005), Tectonic evolution of the west Scotia Sea, J. Geophys. Res., 110(B2).
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Gaina, C., D. R. Müller, J. Y. Royer, J. Stock, J. Hardebeck, and P. Symonds (1998), The tectonic history of the Tasman Sea: a puzzle with 13 pieces, J. Geophys. Res., 103(B6), 12413-12433. [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Gaina, C., R. D. Müller, J.-Y. Royer, and P. Symonds (1999), The tectonic evolution of the Louisiade Triple Junction, J. Geophys. Res., 104, 12973-12939. [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Gaina, C., and R. D. Müller (2007), Cenozoic tectonic and depth/age evolution of the Indonesian gateway and associated back-arc basins, Earth-Science Reviews, 83(3-4), 177-203. [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Hilde, T. W.C. and L. Chao-Shing (1984), Origin and evolution of the West Philippine Basin: A new interpretation, Tectonophysics, 102 (1-4), 85-104. [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Mrozowski C. L., S. D. Lewis, and D. E. Hayes (1982), Complexities in the tectonic evolution of the West Philippine Basin, Tectonophysics, 82 (1-2), 1-24. [readme]
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Patriat, M., J. Collot, L. Danyushevsky, M. Fabre, S. Meffre, T. Falloon, P. Rouillard, B. Pelletier, M. Roach, and M. Fournier (2015), Propagation of back-arc extension into the arc lithosphere in the southern New Hebrides volcanic arc, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 16, 3142-3159.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Sasaki, T., T. Yamazaki, and O. Ishizuka, A revised spreading model of the West Philippine Basin, Earth, Planets and Space, 66 (1), 83. [readme]
DOI not available PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Sdrolias, M., Müller R.D., and C. Gaina (2003), Tectonic Evolution of the SW Pacific Using Constraints from Back-arc Basins, in Evolution and Dynamics of the Australian Plate, edited by H. R.R. and M. R.D., Geol. Soc. Australia Spec. Publ. 22 and Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Paper.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Sdrolias, M., W. R. Roest, and R. D. Müller (2004), An Expression of Philippine Plate Rotation: the Parece Vela and Shikoku Basins, Tectonophysics, 394, 69-86.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Seton, M., N. Mortimer, S. Williams, P. Quilty, P. Gans, S. Meffre, S. Micklethwaite, S. Zahirovic, J. Moore, and K. J. Matthews (2016), Melanesian back-arc basin and arc development: Constraints from the eastern Coral Sea, Gondwana Res., 39, 77-95.
DOI lookup PNG map ZIP download KML download GMT download Weissel, J. K., B. Taylor, and G. D. Karner (1982), The opening of the Woodlark Basin, subduction of the Woodlark spreading system, and the evolution of Northern Melanesia since mid-Pliocene time, Tectonophysics, 87 (1-4), 253-277.

Data Format

All formats contain the same information. The name of the file derives from the publication and uses the format author(s)_year_journal.extension, where extensions are .shp, .gmt, and .kml. Because ESRI shapefiles actually consists of several separate files per dataset we distribute these in zip archives instead, hence these files are called *.zip.

The data files contain these observations:
lon, lat: The location of the magnetic pick.

The data files also contain these aspatial data:


Name Description
Chron:The chron name [e.g., C13n]
AnomalyEnd:End of anomaly being picked, i.e., young (y), old (o), or center (c).
AnomEndQua:Confidence in the anomaly end assignment. Ranges from 1 = anomaly end clearly listed in the original paper; 2 = some problem exist from original paper but there is confidence in the anomaly end assignment 3 = anomaly end unclear in the original paper and the end has been inferred by the data assembler.
CruiseName:Cruise name designation (NGDC) if known, otherwise N/A.
Reference:The publication reference [e.g., Cande++_1988_JGR]
DOI:The DOI of the publication, if known, otherwise N/A
GeeK2007:The assigned age based on the Gee and Kent [2007] time scale. Note: Other time scales can be used via the Chron name.
IDMethod:Typically "Magnetic Anomaly" but could be other identifiers such as "Abyssal Hill".

If you prefer to assemble your data using Arcinfo then you may consider this GSFML template for magnetic pics.

Additional Information

Some individual publications are also accompanied by a readme file (ASCII text or Word format) that provides additional information about data processing, parameters, etc. A link to these are given at the end of each reference, if available. Much of this information is also given in the actual publications.

Maintained by Paul Wessel
SOEST EarthByte