The Mackenzie hotspot was a volcanic hotspot that existed about 1.3 billion years ago across Canada from the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. It was centred on what is now Darnley Bay on southwestern Victoria Island.

Extent

The Mackenzie hotspot is responsible for the creation of the Mackenzie Large Igneous Province, which contains the largest dike swarm on Earth. During its formation, eruption of plateau lavas near the Coppermine River, built an extensive volcanic plateau about 1,200 million years ago with an area of about representing a volume of lavas of at least .

Mackenzie hotspot

The Mackenzie hotspot also resulted in the opening of the Mesoproterozoic Poseidon Ocean.

Mackenzie hotspot

See also

Volcanism of Canada

Volcanism of Northern Canada

References

Volcanism of Nunavut

Volcanism of the Northwest Territories

Mesoproterozoic volcanism

Hotspots of North America

Mackenzie hotspot