Palaeoposition of the Seychelles microcontinent in relation to the Deccan Traps and the Plume Generation Zone in Late Cretaceous-Early
Palaeogene time
M. Ganerød
T. H. Torsvik
D. J. J. van Hinsbergen
C. Gaina
F. Corfu
S. Werner
T. M. Owen-Smith
L. D. Ashwal
S. J. Webb
B. W. H. Hendriks
10.6084/m9.figshare.3452924
https://geolsoc.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Palaeoposition_of_the_Seychelles_microcontinent_in_relation_to_the_Deccan_Traps_and_the_Plume_Generation_Zone_in_Late_Cretaceous-Early___Palaeogene_time/3452924
<p>The Early Palaeogene magmatic rocks of North and Silhouette Islands in the Seychelles contain clues to the Cenozoic geodynamic
puzzle of the Indian Ocean, but have so far lacked precise geochronological data and palaeomagnetic constraints. New <sup>40</sup>Ar/<sup>39</sup>Ar and U–Pb dates demonstrate that these rocks were emplaced during magnetochron C28n; however, <sup>40</sup>Ar/<sup>39</sup>Ar and palaeomagnetic data from Silhouette indicate that this complex experienced a protracted period of cooling. The Seychelles
palaeomagnetic pole (57.55°S and 114.22°E; A9512.3°, <em>N</em>=14) corresponds to poles of similar ages from the Deccan Traps after being corrected for a clockwise rotation of 29.4°±12.9°.
This implies that Seychelles acted as an independent microplate between the Indian and African plates during and possibly
after C27r time, confirming recent results based on kinematic studies. Our reconstruction confirms that the eruption of the
Deccan Traps, which affected both India and the Seychelles and triggered continental break-up, can be linked to the present
active Reunion hotspot, which is being sourced as a deep plume from the Plume Generation Zone.
</p>
2016-06-21 10:59:38
magnetochron C 28n
Deccan Traps
Silhouette
pole
Indian
palaeomagnetic
Cenozoic geodynamic puzzle
Palaeogene magmatic rocks
Plume Generation Zone
Seychelle
data
C 27r time
Ar
Geology