Traditionally active rifts are thought to evolve in response to thermal upwelling of the
asthenosphere, whereas passive rifts develop in response to lithospheric extension driven …

The opening of the Equatorial and South Atlantic Oceans is still a matter of debate,
particularly as concerns the locations of the intraplate deformation. We propose here a …

Splitting or thinning of lithosphere above a mantle plume can result in voluminous melt
generation, leading to the formation of large igneous provinces, or LIPs. Examples of LIPs …

Stratigraphic data and 40 Ar-39Ar ages for the Early Cretaceous Paraná-Etendeka flood
basalts indicate that the main magmatic episode lasted for several my (129–134 Ma) and …

A detailed Arsingle bondAr study of the Paraná-Etendeka continental flood basalts (CFB)
has been undertaken using laser spot analysis. Data provide information not only on the age …

The extension of the lithosphere, controlling the development of rifted basins, is driven by a
combination of plate-boundary forces, frictional forces exerted on the base of the lithosphere …

There were three negative seawater strontium-isotope excursions (shifts to lower^ 87^ Sr/^
86^ Sr values) during the Jurassic and Cretaceous that were of relatively short duration (5 …

We discuss the geological, geophysical, and petrological observations that constrain the
nature of mantle convection in plumes, and show how theoretical models of mantle plumes …

The identification of large igneous provinces (LIPs) and associated mantle plumes has been
confined for the most part to the Mesozoic and Cenozoic record. With few exceptions, pre …

We make the case for Early Cretaceous transfer zones that segment the obliquely rifted
Atlantic margin of southeastern Brazil. Our interpretation is based on published literature …