Research in rock magnetism and palaeomagnetism of recent sediments and palaeozoic to tertiary rocks in Thailand

Abstract: Rock magnetic and palaeomagnetic studies have been performed on sediments and Palaeozoic to Tertiary rocks in Thailand. The first part of the thesis includes an environmantal study based on the magnetic properties of recent sediments in one of southern Thailands largest water reservoirs, the Songkla Lake. Sediment from 21 cores collected from different parts of the lake were investigated. From the correlation with age determinations of the sediments, the sedimentation velocities could be determined and related to different parts of the lake. In an attempt to put Thailand and its geological evolution into a plate tectonic context rock magnetic and palaeomagnetic studies were performed on rock from different blocks in southern and northern Thailand. The results show that large parts of Thailand have been remagnetized due to the intrusions of Permian-Triassic granites, and that rock have been deformed in relation with a collition between Asia and India. The plate tectonic analysis shows a clear tectonic contrast between the Shan Thai and Indochina Blocks, a difference that can be related to a collition between Asia and India during the Cenozoic. The study also demonstrates that northeast Thailand, which forms a part of the Indochina Block, has been attached to the South China Block during late Jurrasic time. The presented model of the tectonic evolution for this part of Thailand supports to a large extent earlier presented geological models.