The Serra Geral Formation is one of the formations of the
Paraná Basin.
It is the result of the largest continental volcanic magmatism known on Earth which ocurred
during the Upper Cretaceous (145 - 100 Ma). At that time, the prototypes of today´s continents
South America
(the
South American Platform)
and Africa were still united as part of the supercontinent Pangea
(see
geology).
The separation of South America and Africa (which led to the opening of the South Atlantic)
was preceded by a voluminous tholeitic magmatism whose basaltic lava flooded
the basins in the south of the two continents (Paraná, Etendeka, Angola), giving rise to
the Paraná - Etendeka Magmatic Province.
The heat source which caused this magmatism, was probably generated by a large mantle plume situated
below the Earth´s crust.
