A new plumbing system framework for mantle plume-related continental Large Igneous Provinces and their mafic-ultramafic intrusions

• Published in: Journal of volcanology and geothermal research Vol. 384; pp. 75 - 84
• Main Authors: Ernst, R.E., Liikane, D.A., Jowitt, S.M., Buchan, K.L., Blanchard, J.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15-10-2019
• ISSN: 0377-0273; 1872-6097
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2019.07.007

The magmatic components of continental Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) include flood basalts and their plumbing system of giant mafic dyke swarms (radiating, linear, and the recently discovered circumferential type), mafic sill provinces, a lower crustal magmatic underplate, mafic-ultramafic (M–UM) intrusions, associated silicic magmatism, and associated carbonatites and kimberlites. This paper proposes a new plumbing system framework for mantle plume-related continental LIPs that incorporates all of these components, and provides a context for addressing key thematic aspects such as tracking magma batches “upstream” and “downstream” and their geochemical evolution, assessing the setting of M-UM intrusions and their economic potential, interpreting deep magmatic component identified by geophysical signatures, and estimating magnitudes of extrusive and intrusive components with climate change implications. This plumbing system model, and its associated implications, needs to be tested against the rapidly improving LIP record.
•New plumbing system framework for plume-related continental LIPs•Provides context for tracking magma batches “upstream” and “downstream” in the system•Identifies the setting of different types of mafic-ultramafic intrusions within this plumbing system