Stratigraphy and Paleomagnetism of the Tillite in Jiangshan: Implications for South China Glacial Strata Comparison

ABSTRACT The timing, extent and paleogeographic position of Neoproterozoic glaciations remain debated. Here we review Neoproterozoic Nanhua System glacial deposits in South China and present new, high‐quality paleomagnetic data from the Leigongwu Formation (Jiangshan). Thermomagnetic and stepwise thermal demagnetisation of well‐oriented tillite cores yield a stable high‐temperature characteristic remanent magnetisation (ChRM), from which we calculate a site‐mean direction corresponding to a paleolatitude of ~14° N (α95 = 6.8°, k = 77.8). This result, together with regional paleomagnetic data, supports a mid–low latitude position for the South China Block during the Marinoan interval and thus provides independent regional evidence relevant to the Snowball Earth hypothesis. In addition, we discuss implications for inter‐regional correlation of Nanhua glacial strata.