Magmatism and Geochemical Dynamics of Large Igneous Provinces

Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) are remarkable expressions of mantle-derived magmatism, characterised by the rapid emplacement of vast volumes of basaltic to picritic magma through continental or oceanic lithosphere. These events are driven by mantle plume upwellings or other deep-mantle anomalies, and their magmatic products record key information on mantle source compositions, crust–mantle interaction, and volatile release. The geochemical dynamics of LIPs encompass the evolution of primary melts, the influence of crustal assimilation, and the phase relationships that control mineral crystallisation and volatile saturation. Melt inclusions trapped in early-crystallising minerals provide a window into pre-eruption volatile contents, shedding light on the roles of CO2, SO2 and CH4 in driving environmental change. Radiometric geochronology at sub-100 ka precision has refined the temporal links between LIP magmatism and global biotic crises, while isotopic and trace-element patterns delineate contributions from depleted mantle, recycled oceanic crust and enriched lithospheric domains. Beyond their pivotal role in Phanerozoic climate perturbations and mass extinctions, LIPs also influence continental breakup, basin formation and mineralisation, making them both a phenomenon of fundamental Earth science and a target for resource exploration.

Research from Nature Portfolio

High-precision U–Pb zircon dating of Central Atlantic magmatic province (CAMP) sills has achieved sub-0.1 Ma resolution, revealing synchronous magmatic pulses across South and North America. This tighter chronology supports models in which rapid magma injection into organic-rich sediments triggered greenhouse-gas release at the end-Triassic. Complementary studies of fluid inclusions within quartz from CAMP intrusions demonstrate an unprecedented flux of methane, generated or remobilised by magma–sediment interaction. The scale of CH4 release, estimated at several thousand gigatonnes, underscores the capacity of LIPs to instigate abrupt climate warming. Investigations of melt inclusions in basaltic rocks have further quantified deep-source CO2, pointing to a mantle or lower-crustal origin for voluminous carbon and emphasising that each eruptive pulse may have rivalled modern anthropogenic emissions on centennial timescales.

Magmatism and Geochemical Dynamics of Large Igneous Provinces publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in magmatism and geochemical dynamics of large igneous provinces across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Large Igneous Province (LIP): A regionally extensive accumulation of predominantly mafic volcanic and intrusive rocks emplaced over a geologically brief interval (typically <5 Ma).

Melt inclusion: A microscopic pocket of melt trapped within a growing mineral, preserving volatile and trace-element compositions of the parent magma.

U–Pb geochronology: A radiometric dating method using the decay of uranium to lead in zircon or baddeleyite to determine crystallisation ages with high precision.

Assimilation–fractional crystallisation (AFC): A process in which a magma simultaneously incorporates crustal material and fractionates crystals, altering its composition.

Isotopic signature: The characteristic ratio of stable or radiogenic isotopes (e.g., Hf, Nd, O) in mineral or rock samples, used to trace source materials and processes.

References

1. New U–Pb geochronology for the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province, critical reevaluation of high-precision ages and their impact on the end-Triassic extinction event. Scientific Reports (2023).
2. Deep CO2 in the end-Triassic Central Atlantic Magmatic Province. Nature Communications (2020).
3. Zircon petrochronology in large igneous provinces reveals upper crustal contamination processes: new U–Pb ages, Hf and O isotopes, and trace elements from the Central Atlantic magmatic province (CAMP). Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology (2021).
4. Massive methane fluxing from magma–sediment interaction in the end-Triassic Central Atlantic Magmatic Province. Nature Communications (2021).
5. The origin and emplacement of the Freetown Intrusion, Sierra Leone. Journal of African Earth Sciences (2024).
6. Morphology, Internal Architecture, Facies Model, and Emplacement Mechanisms of Lava Flows from the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) of the Hartford and Deerfield Basins (USA). Geosciences (2024).