South America-Africa Split: Volcanic Eruption and Climate Shift 135 Million Years Ago

A study in *Earth-Science Reviews* examines the continental split between South America and Africa 135 million years ago. This separation involved a massive volcanic eruption, spewing an estimated 16 million cubic kilometers of magma between 135 and 131 million years ago, with a peak around 134.5 million years ago. Evidence includes volcanic rocks in South America, Africa, and the Atlantic Ocean seabed, with layers up to a kilometer thick in Namibia and Angola. The research, 'Magmatism of rupture in the South Atlantic: mechanisms and implications,' compiled data from multiple sources of previously collected data from South America, Africa and the ocean floor. The study suggests the southern Pangea fragmentation may be linked to a mantle plume, thinning the continental crust. Mohamed Mansour Abdelmalak, the lead author, noted the need for more samples from deep ocean areas near Argentina and Uruguay to confirm this. Existing evidence indicates an unusual cooling period following the eruption, potentially due to rapid magma decomposition or weathering, contrasting the typical warming effect of greenhouse gas emissions from large eruptions. The split involving North America concluded 55 million years ago.