Mesozoic to Cenozoic alkaline and tholeiitic magmatism related to West Gondwana break-up and dispersal

Abstract

For over 50 years, Mesozoic tholeiites, kimberlites and carbonatites from the South American platform have been enabled the understanding of melting processes in the Earth’s upper mantle. However, the genetic relationship between alkaline and tholeiitic magmatism remains unknown. In this context, an extensive review, based on a compilation of published geochemical and isotopic data, shows an integrated evolution for mantle-derived magmatism in South America. The K-rich alkaline-carbonatite intrusions occur widespread through time at 255–209 Ma, 146–106 Ma and 91–71 Ma. Moreover, the Na-rich magmatic episodes are also documented at 130–120 Ma and 66–32 Ma. Tholeiitic basaltic lavas and dikes are recorded at ∼200 Ma in Northern Brazil and mainly between 134 and 131 Ma in the Paraná Magmatic Province. Simultaneous tholeiitic lavas and carbonatitic complexes are related to near isothermal decompression of enriched asthenospheric and lithospheric mantle sources at different depths (80–200 km). Likewise, the 267–226 Ma kimberlites in the Amazonian Craton, ∼128 Ma Rosário kimberlite in the Rio de la Plata Craton and 88–80 Ma Alto Paranaíba kimberlites in the western edge of the São Francisco Craton provide evidence for deeper (>200 km) metasomatized mantle sources. Compiled numerical, geophysical and geological data support the proposal that the thickness of the lithosphere, extension rates and the presence of previous weak crustal structures contributed to the generation and emplacement of multiple tholeiitic and alkaline intrusions from 250 to 30 Ma. We propose that several crustal extension events induced repeated thermal convection cells in the metasomatized asthenosphere, which triggered partial melting in the previously enriched and heterogeneous lithospheric mantle. The local mantle composition, depth and crustal extension ratios controlled the magma composition. Thus, West Gondwana break-up and dispersal played a crucial role in the Mesozoic to Paleogene melting processes of the metasomatized mantle in South America.