March 2025 LIP of the Month
Record of Archean and earliest Proterozoic Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs)
Ernst, R.E.1, El Bilali, H.1, Buchan, K.L.2, Chamberlain, K.R.3, Srivastava, R.K.4, Evans, D.A.D.5
1Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Richard.Ernst@Carleton.ca
2 273 Fifth Ave., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
3Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
4 Department of Geology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
5Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Extracted from
Ernst, R.E., El Bilali, H., Buchan, K.L., Chamberlain, K.R., Srivastava, R.K., Evans, D.A.D (2025) Record of Archean and earliest Proterozoic Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) and their mafic dyke swarms. In: Homann, M., Altermann, W. Ernst, R.E., Heubeck, C., Lyons, T., Mason, P., Mazumder, R, Papineau D., Stueeken, E., Webb, A., Zerkle, A. (eds.) The Archean Earth (2nd Edition of The Precambrian Earth). Elsevier. (in press, due to be published in October) https://shop.elsevier.com/books/the-archean-earth/homann/978-0-323-95547-8
Summary
Over the past two decades, the database of Archean Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) has grown significantly due to advances in high-precision U-Pb geochronology, refined geochemical characterization, improved paleogeographic reconstructions, and enhanced understanding of LIP plumbing system architecture. Archean LIPs are typically identified by volcanic successions containing komatiites—indicative of high mantle temperatures consistent with plume-related origins—as well as intraplate-type geochemical signatures, large volumes of mafic magmatism, and extensive mafic dyke swarms.
Using these criteria, at least 145 discrete Archean and early Paleoproterozoic LIP fragments have been identified across global cratonic blocks, spanning the interval from ~3.8 to 2.36 Ga (Figs. 1, 2). Three major gaps of 60–80 million years segment the LIP record into four broad temporal groups: >3600 Ma, 3050–3600 Ma, 2600–3050 Ma, and 2350–2600 Ma. These hiatuses may reflect intervals of tectonic stasis or major shifts in mantle dynamics. The 145 LIP fragments cluster into at least 24 temporal groupings—18 within the Archean. This represents an average of approximately one LIP fragment every 10 Myr and a minimum of one (potential) reconstructed LIP event every 60 Myr.
These frequencies are comparable to the post-Archean continental LIP record, which averages one LIP every 20 million years (or every 10–15 million years when accounting for poorly preserved oceanic LIPs) and one potential plume-related grouping roughly every 30 Myrs. Both Archean and post-Archean LIP records are incomplete: in younger periods, oceanic LIPs are mostly known from obducted remnants in orogenic belts, while in the Archean, intense metamorphism and deformation obscure the LIP records, though some oceanic LIP fragments persist. Archean mafic (-ultramafic) dyke swarms are critical for identifying mantle plume events, with 34 swarms dated between 3.51 and 2.5 Ga, and 21 additional swarms between 2.5 and 2.36 Ga. At least two Archean plume centers have been delineated through radiating swarm patterns.
This expanded LIP dataset supports new perspectives on Archean paleogeographic reconstructions, climate perturbations, natural chronostratigraphic boundaries, mineral systems, and deep Earth processes. Comparing Archean and post-Archean LIP characteristics offers insights into secular evolution in plume dynamics—such as variations in size, frequency, and composition. Notably, Archean and early Proterozoic LIP recognition remains uneven across crustal blocks; regions like the Kaapvaal and Pilbara are more thoroughly sampled, indicating that many LIP fragments—particularly those affected by metamorphism and deformation—likely remain undiscovered on other crustal blocks. For full details see Ernst et al. (2025).
Figure 1. Global LIP barcode diagram for the 2.36 to 4.0 Ga period (earliest Proterozoic and Archean). The red bars are labelled with numbers that correspond to entries in Table 1. The columns represent crustal blocks, with their cratonization ages (indicated by the bottom end of vertical grey bars). Purple and blue boxes at left indicate timing of significant rifting and convergence, respectively. Those columns labelled as proto-“xxx” indicate the presence of older crustal blocks within the named cratons. Short horizontal orange lines indicate LIP fragment ages on more than one crustal block. Horizontal green bars locate apparent gaps in the LIP record and divide the data into four time periods (2350-2600, 2600-3050, 3050-3600 and 3600-3850 Ma). See Ernst et al. (2025) for details
Figure 2. Distribution of Archean LIP entries from Table 1 and Figure 1, displayed on a global map with a Robinson projection. The entries are grouped into four age intervals (2350-2600 Ma, 2600-3050 Ma, 3050 to 3600 Ma and 3600-3850 Ma). See Ernst et al. (2025) for details.
Table 1: Preliminary compilation of the early Paleoproterozoic and Archean LIP record
|
Age or Age range (Ma) |
Assigned age (Ma) |
LIP No. |
Name of LIP (or LIP fragment) |
Location |
Criteria for LIP |
|
2365 |
2365 |
1 |
Bangalore |
Dharwar |
dyke swarm |
|
2365 |
2365 |
2 |
Bhanupratappur |
Bastar |
dyke swarm |
|
2365 |
2365 |
3 |
Grædefjord |
North Atlantic (Greenland portion) |
dyke swarm |
|
2500-2470 |
2500 |
4 |
Dantewara |
Bastar |
dyke swarm |
|
2400 |
2400 |
5 |
Uoleviniehto – Imandra |
Karelia |
dyke swarm |
|
2410 |
2410 |
6 |
Ringvassoy |
Norbotten |
dyke swarm |
|
2408 |
2408 |
7 |
Sebanga Poort |
Zimbabwe |
dyke swarm |
|
2408 |
2408 |
8 |
du Chef |
Superior |
dyke swarm |
|
2420-2365 |
2420 |
9 |
Scourie |
North Atlantic (Scourie portion) |
dyke swarm |
|
2420-2410 |
2420 |
10 |
Widgiemooltha (-Erayinia) |
Yilgarn |
dyke swarm |
|
2421 |
2421 |
11 |
Ongeluk |
Kaapvaal |
dyke swarm |
|
2441 |
2441 |
12 |
Westerberg |
Kaapvaal |
sill |
|
2450 |
2450 |
13 |
Baggot Rocks |
Wyoming (Southern Accreted Terrane) |
mafic intrusions & volcanics (rift related) |
|
2450-2440 |
2450 |
14 |
BLIP-2 (Baltic LIP-young) |
Karelia-Kola |
dyke swarm |
|
2449 |
2449 |
15 |
Welli Wolli - Woongara |
Pilbara |
bimodal magmatism |
|
2459 -2446 |
2459 |
16 |
Matachewan-young pulse |
Superior |
dyke swarm |
|
2470 |
2470 |
17 |
Mtshingwe |
Zimbabwe |
dyke swarm |
|
2491-2475 |
2491 |
18 |
Matachewan-old pulse |
Superior |
dyke swarm |
|
2480 |
2480 |
19 |
Blue Draw |
Black Hills of Wyoming, linked to Sask |
mafic-ultramafic intrusion (M-UM) |
|
2480 |
2480 |
20 |
Elbow Creek |
Wyoming (“core”) |
dyke swarm |
|
2490 |
2490 |
21 |
Crixás-Goiás |
Amazonia |
dyke swarm |
|
2488 |
2488 |
22 |
Mirond Lake |
Sask |
dyke swarm |
|
2498 |
2498 |
23 |
Kaminak |
Hearne |
dyke swarm |
|
2499 |
2499 |
24 |
Kilaarsarfik |
North Atlantic (Greenland portion) |
dyke swarm |
|
2505 |
2505 |
25 |
Kejuksoatalik |
North Atlantic (Nain portion) |
dyke swarm |
|
2513-2490 |
2513 |
26 |
BLIP -1 (Baltic LIP-old) |
Karelia-Kola |
dyke swarm |
|
2515-2508 |
2515 |
27 |
Mistassini-Ptarmigan-Irsuaq |
Superior |
dyke swarm |
|
2512 |
2512 |
28 |
Crystal Springs |
Zimbabwe |
dyke swarm |
|
2520 |
2520 |
29 |
Lake Harris |
Gawler |
komatiite |
|
2551 |
2551 |
30 |
Lavras |
Sao Francisco |
dyke swarm |
|
2575 |
2575 |
31 |
Great Dyke of Zimbabwe |
Zimbabwe |
dyke swarm |
|
2605 |
2605 |
32 |
Stockford |
Limpopo belt |
dyke swarm |
|
2615 |
2615 |
33 |
Yandinilling |
Yilgarn |
dyke swarm |
|
2623 |
2623 |
34 |
Uaua- young |
Sao Francisco |
dyke swarm |
|
2662 |
2662 |
35 |
White Mfolozi |
Kaapvaal |
dyke swarm |
|
2676-2669 |
2676 |
36 |
Musoma-Mara |
Tanzanian |
dyke swarm |
|
2680 |
2680 |
37 |
Marjok |
Kola |
dyke swarm |
|
2688 |
2688 |
38 |
Aousserd-Tichla |
West African |
dyke swarm |
|
2690-2684 |
2690 |
39 |
Upper Fortescue Group (Jeerinah Fm) |
Pilbara |
flood basalt |
|
2710-2680 |
2710 |
40 |
Allanridge- (Pniel Sequence )- Rykoppies |
Kaapvaal |
radiating dyke swarm |
|
2716-2697 |
2716 |
41 |
Flake Lake |
Slave |
rift-related volcanism |
|
2720-2680 |
2720 |
42 |
Stillwater- Rendevous |
Wyoming (northern “core”) |
dyke swarm; M-UM |
|
2700 |
2700 |
43 |
Bradley Peak |
Wyoming (Southern Accreted Terrane) |
komatiite |
|
2713 |
2713 |
44 |
Otter Creek |
Minnesota River Valley (Superior) |
M-UM |
|
2700 |
2700 |
45 |
Sandur |
Dharwar |
Plume, komatiite |
|
2700 |
2700 |
46 |
Sukma |
Bastar |
dyke swarm |
|
2719 |
2719 |
47 |
Kibbanahalli of the Babudan Group |
Dharwar |
failed rift |
|
2720 |
2720 |
48 |
Wawa |
Superior (Wawa belt) |
komatiite |
|
2720 |
2720 |
49 |
Upper Nyanzian event |
Tanzanian |
oceanic plateau |
|
2723 |
2723 |
50 |
Unnamed in southern Cameroon |
Congo |
dyke swarm |
|
2724–2715 |
2724 |
51 |
Tumbiana-Pyradie-Maddina-Bunjinah |
Pilbara |
|
|
2726 |
2726 |
52 |
Uaua-old |
Sao Francisco |
dyke swarm |
|
2730-2700 |
2730 |
53 |
Kam |
Slave |
thick tholeiite sequence; komatiite; plume? |
|
2734 |
2734 |
54 |
Woodburn Lake Group, Committee Belt |
Rae |
plume origin; breakup of Rae craton? |
|
2736-2711 |
2736 |
55 |
Yalgowra |
Yilgarn (Youanmi terrane) |
M-UM; komatiitic basalt |
|
2733 |
2733 |
56 |
Ahmeyim (includes Great Dyke of Mauritania) |
West African |
dyke swarm |
|
2735-2698 |
2735 |
57 |
Abitibi greenstone belt |
Superior craton (Abitibi belt) |
komatiite |
|
2750-2710 |
2750 |
58 |
Platberg |
Kaapvaal |
flood basalt |
|
2750-2680 |
2750 |
59 |
Reliance-Zeederbergs |
Zimbabwe |
flood basalt; dyke swarm |
|
2747-2740 |
2747 |
60 |
Kylena (Kathleen Valley) (middle Fortescue) |
Pilbara |
dyke swarm |
|
2750-2710 |
2750 |
61 |
Ring of Fire – Bird River - Miminiska-Fort Hope |
Superior (North Caribou & Winnipeg River Terrane) |
M-UM, mantle plume, LIP |
|
2740 |
2740 |
62 |
Olenogorsk |
Karelia-Kola |
dyke swarm |
|
2750-2710 |
2750 |
63 |
Lower Yanlingguan |
North China |
komatiite; mantle plume |
|
2710-2690 |
2710 |
64 |
Goldfields Tholeiitic Super Event (Group IV) |
Yilgarn (Eastern Goldfields Superterrane) |
komatiite; also termed a LIP |
|
2740-2720 |
2740 |
65 |
Hisovaara greenstone complex |
Karelia |
komatiite |
|
2765-2720 |
2765 |
66 |
Bababudan |
Dharwar (Western) |
thick tholeiite sequence, rifting |
|
2750 |
2750 |
67 |
Parauapaebas (Serra Leste) |
Amazonian |
termed a LIP |
|
2754 |
2754 |
68 |
Ilomantsi & Gemoli-Bol’shozero |
Central Karelian |
komatiite |
|
2760-2750 |
2760 |
69 |
Ghatgaon |
Singhbhum |
dyke swarm |
|
2766-2750 |
2766 |
70 |
Hardey and Sylvania Inlier dykes |
Pilbara |
flood basalt |
|
2767 |
2767 |
71 |
Monts de Cristal |
Congo |
M-UM; dyke swarm |
|
2775-2763 |
2775 |
72 |
Mount Roe- Black Range (older Fortescue) |
Pilbara |
dyke swarm |
|
2791-2779 |
2791 |
73 |
Klipriviersberg -(older Ventersdorp) |
Kaapvaal |
komatiite |
|
2780 |
2780 |
74 |
Fourbay Event |
Superior |
oceanic plateau? |
|
2786 |
2786 |
75 |
NESP (Northeastern Superior Province) |
Superior |
mafic-ultramafic cover sequence |
|
2778 |
2778 |
76 |
Khizovaara |
Karelian |
komatiite |
|
2799-2792 |
2799 |
77 |
Siivikkovaara |
Karelia |
komatiite |
|
2800-2790 |
2800 |
78 |
Warriedar (Gnanagooragoo) & Boodanoo |
Yilgarn (Youanmi terrane) |
M-UM |
|
2800 |
2800 |
79 |
Keshargaria |
Singhbhum |
dyke swarm |
|
2810-2710 |
2810 |
80 |
Goldfields Tholeiitic Super Event (Group III) |
Yilgarn ( Eastern Goldfields Superterrane) |
komatiite |
|
2819-2813 |
2819 |
81 |
Meeline-Norie-(Windimurra-Little Gap) |
Yilgarn (Youanmi Terrane) |
M-UM |
|
2820 |
2820 |
82 |
Lac Guyer |
Superior (La Grande) |
Continental plume, rift |
|
2820 |
2820 |
83 |
Lower Nyanzian event |
Tanzanian |
oceanic plateau |
|
2830 |
2828 |
84 |
Lumby Lake- Lac des Mille Lacs |
Superior (Marmion block) |
komatiite, |
|
2840-2790 |
2840 |
85 |
Kostomushka - Kuhmo-Suomussalmi (younger) -Tipasjärvi |
Karelian |
komatiite; oceanic plateau |
|
2847-2836 |
2847 |
86 |
Nuolikangas (Kuhmo-2) |
Karelia-Kola |
komatiite |
|
2874-2866 |
2874 |
87 |
Hlagothi |
Kaapvaal |
dyke swarm |
|
2860 |
2860 |
88 |
Pickle Crow |
Superior |
oceanic plateau |
|
2866 |
2866 |
89 |
Unnamed within Ntem complex |
Congo |
dyke swarm |
|
2880-2820 |
2880 |
90 |
Keret’ozero |
Karelian |
komatiite |
|
2880-2866 |
2880 |
91 |
Koodoovale |
Zimbabwe |
komatiitic basalts |
|
2880 |
2880 |
92 |
Onot |
Siberian |
bimodal volcanism |
|
2890-2800 |
2890 |
93 |
Nimini (-Sula-Kambui) |
West African |
komatiite |
|
2900? |
2900 |
94 |
Forrestania–Lake Johnston |
Yilgarn (Youanmi terrane) |
komatiite |
|
2900 |
2900 |
95 |
Polmostundra (Kolmosero–Voronye) |
Kola |
komatiite |
|
2920-2910 |
2920 |
96 |
Huatavaara (komatiites) |
Karelian |
komatiite |
|
2925-2903 |
2925 |
97 |
Radley |
Pilbara |
dyke swarm; M-UM |
|
2930-2920 |
2930 |
98 |
2920-2930 Ma units in Western Superior |
Superior |
rifting or impingement of plume in subduction setting |
|
2940-2925 |
2940 |
99 |
Ball |
Superior |
komatiite |
|
2940 |
2940 |
100 |
Suomussalmi (older) |
Karelia |
komatiite; continental rift |
|
2950-2920 |
2950 |
101 |
Vedlozero-Segozero |
Karelia |
Komatiite |
|
2960-2910 |
2960 |
102 |
Sumozero–Kenozero |
Karelia |
komatiite |
|
2950 |
2950 |
103 |
Bookingarra & Croydon groups |
Pilbara |
bimodal volcanics |
|
2970 |
2970 |
104 |
Prince Albert |
Rae |
komatiite |
|
2990-2960 |
2990 |
105 |
Dominion-Nsuze -Badplaas |
Kaapvaal |
radiating mafic dyke swarm |
|
3000-2990 |
3000 |
106 |
Aouéouat |
West African |
meta-ultramafic rocks |
|
2990-2960 |
2990 |
107 |
Balmer (+Wallace Lake, Birch Uchi belt+ McInnes lake, North Caribou belt)) |
Superior (North Caribou) |
komatiite, plume, rift |
|
2990-2979 |
2990 |
108 |
Florence Lake |
North Atlantic (Hopedale) |
komatiite; mantle plume |
|
3000-2900 |
3000 |
109 |
Belingwean |
Zimbabwe |
komatiite |
|
3000 |
3000 |
110 |
Olondo |
Siberian |
komatiite |
|
3000 |
3000 |
111 |
Koikary |
Karelia-Kola |
komatiite |
|
3020-2960 |
3020 |
112 |
Palaselga |
Karelia-Kola |
komatiite |
|
3100 |
3100 |
113 |
Hunt River |
Hopedale Block, North Atlantic Craton |
komatiite; mantle plume |
|
3150 |
3150 |
114 |
Banasandra; Nagamangala |
Dharwar (Western) |
mantle plume |
|
3182 |
3182 |
115 |
Dalton |
Pilbara |
M-UM |
|
3185-3176 |
3185 |
116 |
Soanesville |
Pilbara |
rift related |
|
3252-3235 |
3252 |
117 |
Sulphur Springs |
Pilbara |
komatiites |
|
3265 |
3265 |
118 |
Ameralik -2 |
Greenland |
dyke swarm |
|
3300- 3270 |
3300 |
119 |
Weltevreden-Mendon |
Kaapvaal |
komatiite, mantle plume? |
|
3300-3200 |
3300 |
120 |
Tungurcha |
Siberia |
komatiite |
|
3300 |
3300 |
121 |
Older Metamorphic Group |
Singhbhum |
mantle plume |
|
3325-3315 |
3325 |
122 |
Kelly-Euro |
Pilbara |
dyke swarm; komatiite |
|
3340 |
3340 |
123 |
Gorumahishani-Badampahar |
Singhbhum |
mantle plume komatiite |
|
3343 |
3343 |
124 |
Bacuri |
Amazonian |
mantle plume? |
|
3350 |
3350 |
125 |
Sargur |
Western Dharwar |
mantle plume |
|
3354-3330 |
3354 |
126 |
Commondale |
Kaapvaal |
mantle plume; komatiite |
|
3400 |
3400 |
127 |
Nondweni -Witkop |
Kaapvaal |
komatiites |
|
3455 |
3455 |
128 |
Noisy-Barberton |
Kaapvaal |
Komatiite |
|
3455 |
3455 |
129 |
Radiating dyke swarm |
Pilbara |
radiating dyke swarm |
|
3460-3430 |
3460 |
130 |
Salgash (Apex, Panorama) |
Pilbara |
mantle plume; oceanic plateau |
|
3474 |
3474 |
131 |
Ameralik-2 |
Greenland |
dyke swarm |
|
3482 |
3482 |
132 |
Komati |
Kaapvaal |
komatiite; mantle plume? |
|
3474-3459 |
3474 |
133 |
Coongan (Duffer) |
Pilbara |
komatiite; mantle plume; oceanic plateau |
|
3490-3460 |
3490 |
134 |
Talga-Talga (Dresser, North Star) |
Pilbara |
komatiite; oceanic plateau |
|
3510-3470 |
3510 |
135 |
Ameralik-1 |
Greenland |
dyke swarm |
|
3526 |
3526 |
136 |
Rio Grande do Norte |
Borborema |
mantle plume? |
|
3530-3498 |
3530 |
137 |
Coonterunah |
Pilbara |
komatiite; mantle plume |
|
3550-3510 |
3550 |
138 |
Sandspruit Theespruit |
Kaapvaal |
continental setting/mantle plume |
|
3638 |
3638 |
139 |
Mairi |
Sao Francisco |
Iceland-like setting |
|
3660 |
3660 |
140 |
Kursk |
Sarmatia |
komatiite, oceanic plateau |
|
3709 |
3709 |
141 |
Napier |
Antarctica |
komatiite, within plate |
|
3750 |
3750 |
142 |
Innersuartuut |
Greenland |
komatiite |
|
3751 |
3751 |
143 |
Nuvvuagittuq |
Superior |
mantle plume? |
|
3800 |
3800 |
144 |
Isua |
Greenland |
? |
|
3825 |
3825 |
145 |
Akilia |
Greenland |
komatiite |
Reference
Ernst, R.E., El Bilali, H., Buchan, K.L., Chamberlain, K.R., Srivastava, R.K., Evans, D.A.D (2025) Record of Archean and earliest Proterozoic Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) and their mafic dyke swarms. In: Homann, M., Altermann, W. Ernst, R.E., Heubeck, C., Lyons, T., Mason, P., Mazumder, R, Papineau D., Stueeken, E., Webb, A., Zerkle, A. (eds.) The Archean Earth (2nd Edition of The Precambrian Earth). Elsevier (in press).