Thermal imprints of late Permian Emeishan basalt effusion: Evidence from zircon fission-track thermochronology

Late Permian Emeishan large igneous province (LIP) developed in response to an ascending mantle plume beneath the southwestern Yangtze Craton, China. Mantle plume models predict two types of thermal effect on the lithosphere: (1) high lithospheric heat flow anomalies due to the ascending magma, and (2) heating of underlying country rocks by erupted lava flow. Evidence for these two effects of the Emeishan LIP may be documented in pre-LIP strata....