Existing geochronological information on Deccan indicates prolonged (started at 68.5 Ma) alkaline magmatism related to the Réunion mantle plume based on the 40Ar/39Ar ages from Sarnu-Dandali and Mundwara alkaline complexes. We studied in detail an alkaline lamprophyre, from the Sarnu-Dandali complex, rich in groundmass (magmatic) as well as xenocrystic phlogopites and clinopyroxenes. 40Ar/39Ar age determinations of the phlogopites from this lamprophyre, reveal two distinct ages of 65.44±1.5 Ma and 68.17±1Ma. However, paleomagnetic results show a VGP at 32.31 N and 298.52 E concordant with that of the Deccan Super Pole at 65.5 Ma and support the younger eruption age at ca. 65.44±1.5Ma. Analyzed phlogopites lack any signs of retention of excess radiogenic Ar and yield similar inverse isochron ages, which suggests that the older age of ca. 68.17±1Ma belongs to the crystallization of xenocrystic phlogopite during mantle metasomatism. Trace element compositions support derivation of lamprophyre magma from an OIB- type enriched (metasomatized) mantle source with an involvement of phlogopite.This finding suggests that the pre-Deccan ages of ca. 68-69 Ma reported previously, may reflect the timing of metasomatism of the subcratonic lithospheric mantle during the separation of Greater-Seychelles from India at ca. ∼68.5 Ma. The absence of pre-Deccan alkaline rocks therefore indicates the short-duration (occurred between 67-65 Ma) of alkaline as well as small-volume, volatile-rich magmatism directly related to the Réunion (Deccan) plume.Supplementary material at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5490881
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