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The paleogeographic relationship between South China and Gondwana is critical for understanding the dispersion of Gondwana, accretion of Asia, and evolution of the Paleo-Tethys. However, the lack of robust Devonian paleomagnetic data prevents a confirmative reconstruction of South China's connection to Gondwana and its subsequent separation during the Paleozoic. Here we report a new paleopole (33.6 degrees N, 236.4 degrees E; A(95) = 3 degrees) from the Givetian red beds (similar to 385 Ma) in central South China. Fitting apparent polar wander paths between South China and Gondwana suggests that South China was connected to East Gondwana from the earliest Cambrian to Early Devonian, with its position closed to NW Australia. Thereafter, South China separated from Gondwana during similar to 400-385 Ma, as evidenced by their decoupled apparent polar wander paths. The paleomagnetic data suggest that the Paleo-Tethys Ocean between South China and East Gondwana had been up to similar to 1,600 km latitudinally wide by similar to 360 Ma.

Plain Language Summary South China is thought to have drifted away from the north Gondwana margin during the Paleozoic. Two critical questions remain unanswered: (1) How did South China connect to Gondwana? (2) When and how did South China break up from Gondwana? Here we present new paleomagnetic evidence for the connection and separation between South China and Gondwana. Our results, in combination with existing data, suggest that South China was connected to East Gondwana from similar to 540 to similar to 400 Ma, with its position closed to northwest Australia. South China broke up from Gondwana during similar to 400-385 Ma, accompanied with the opening of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. By similar to 360 Ma, South China was separated from East Gondwana by the ocean with a N-S width of similar to 1,600 km.