Mesozoic and Cenozoic igneous activity and its tectonic control in northeastern Brazil

The northeastern region of the South American Platform corresponds to a peculiar Brazilian tectonic unit, the Borborema Province. It is a highly complex region due to its tectonic setting, as well as to extensive intrusive and extrusive igneous activity that took place during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. A regional tectonic analysis based on the spatial and temporal distribution of geochronological data (K/Ar ages) led to the recognition of two main magmatic stages. The earlier events (Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous) are related to the origin of several sedimentary rift basins in the area. The Tertiary alkaline magmatism presents a characteristic distribution whose linear trend suggest the track of an active hot spot in the region.