Scientists Reconstruct Baltica’s Position 616 Million Years Ago Using Ancient Magnetic Records

About 600 million years ago, during the Ediacaran period, Earth’s continents were in flux, yet to settle into their current positions. Scientists have long struggled to determine their precise locations due to the erratic behavior of Earth’s magnetic field during this time. Standard techniques for reconstructing continental positions based on magnetic records often yield implausible results.

One of the most debated topics is the location of Baltica, an ancient continent that is now part of modern-day Europe. To address this, researchers Xue et al. traveled to Egersund, Norway, to collect rock samples formed when Baltica’s crust was being pulled apart, allowing magma to rise from below. As this magma solidified, it preserved snapshots of Earth’s magnetic field, including details about Baltica’s position.

Unraveling the Magnetic Complexity of Ancient Rocks

The analysis of these samples revealed a far more complex picture than initially expected. The rocks contained a chaotic mix of at least six distinct magnetic signals. Some of these signals appeared to have formed later, when more modern geological processes altered the original rocks. However, three signals may have survived from the Ediacaran period itself. Two of these ancient signals diverge from the most plausible Ediacaran signal, which places Baltica near the equator.

These conflicting signals reinforce the idea that Earth’s magnetic field was behaving unusually during the Ediacaran, adding layers of complexity to an already puzzling geological era.

New Findings on Baltica’s Position

Based on the new results, the researchers determined that the Egersund paleomagnetic pole was located at 20.8°N, 89.0°E during the Ediacaran. This finding diverges from previous reconstructions and suggests that Baltica was positioned near the equator, adjacent to the ancient continent Laurentia, but rotated slightly clockwise compared to earlier models.

The study highlights the intricate nature of magnetic signals preserved in ancient rocks and underscores the importance of carefully dissecting these records into their constituent components. By doing so, the researchers propose that new insights can be gained into the enigmatic behavior of Earth’s magnetic field during the Ediacaran period.

Key Takeaways:

• Earth’s magnetic field behaved erratically during the Ediacaran period (~600 million years ago).
• Researchers analyzed ancient rocks in Egersund, Norway, to reconstruct Baltica’s position.
• Findings suggest Baltica was near the equator, adjacent to Laurentia, but slightly rotated.
• The study reveals the complexity of magnetic signals in ancient rocks and their potential to clarify past geological behaviors.

Source: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems (https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GC012730, 2026)

—Saima May Sidik (@saimamay.bsky.social), Science Writer

Citation: Sidik, S. M. (2026), Where was Baltica 616 million years ago?, Eos, 107, https://doi.org/10.1029/2026EO260124. Published on 5 June 2026.

Text © 2026. AGU. CC BY-NC-ND 3.0

Except where otherwise noted, images are subject to copyright. Any reuse without express permission from the copyright owner is prohibited.