# When were the gabbro ring bodies of the Richat emplaced? · Eye of the Sahara and Atlantis > Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRG957638/when-were-the-gabbro-ring-bodies-of-the-richat-emplaced Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-28T20:16:46+00:00 --- **0** # When were the gabbro ring bodies of the Richat emplaced? Asked 28 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [How did the Richat Structure form?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRBKSRCJA/how-did-the-richat-structure-form)·3 answers·0·0 following **Three answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters Matton and Jébrak treated the gabbro rings as part of one Cretaceous complex of about 104 to 94 Ma⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKM1S255QP/the-eye-of-africa-richat-dome-mauritania-an-isolated); Abdeina and colleagues model them as sills of 230 to 200 Ma that a later intrusion domed⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKM2MNEZG1/how-old-is-the-eye-of-africa-a-polyphase-history-for-the). Neither has a robust age, and the answer decides whether the rings and the dome are one event or two. ## Answers 3 [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/answers/ANS0DCKS8YDVFPR/none-of-these) None Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The gabbro rings are Central Atlantic Magmatic Province sills of 230 to 200 Ma, domed about 100 million years later** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/answers/ANS0DCKS8FZBTJG/the-gabbro-rings-are-central-atlantic-magmatic-province) None Evidence: 1 for, 2 against Still possible [**The gabbro rings belong to the same Cretaceous complex, emplaced around 104 to 94 Ma** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/answers/ANS0DCKS7XXBARQ/the-gabbro-rings-belong-to-the-same-cretaceous-complex) None Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Still possible ## What would settle it 1. Find whether any U-Pb (zircon or baddeleyite) age on the Richat gabbros has been published since Abdeina et al. 2024, and add it as evidence. 1. Read the full texts of Matton and Jébrak 2014 and Abdeina et al. 2024 for the field relations of the gabbros (dip of contacts, cross-cutting of bedding) and record them as evidence for or against the sill model. ## History 1. 2005[Matton et al.: matton and colleagues mapped the basalts as subvertical ring dikes, not sills](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKKQJ1ACWQ/resolving-the-richat-enigma-doming-and-hydrothermal)Against: The gabbro rings are Central Atlantic Magmatic Province sills of 230 to 200 Ma, domed about 100 million years later 1. 2014[Matton & Jébrak: matton and Jébrak infer an age of about 104 to 94 Ma for the whole mafic-to-felsic sequence](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKM1S255QP/the-eye-of-africa-richat-dome-mauritania-an-isolated)For: The gabbro rings belong to the same Cretaceous complex, emplaced around 104 to 94 Ma 1. 2024[Abdeina et al.: plagioclase 40Ar/39Ar modelling places the gabbros at 230 to 200 Ma, not in the Cretaceous](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKM2MNEZG1/how-old-is-the-eye-of-africa-a-polyphase-history-for-the)Against: The gabbro rings belong to the same Cretaceous complex, emplaced around 104 to 94 Ma 1. 2024[Abdeina et al.: matton and colleagues mapped the basalts as subvertical ring dikes, not sills](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKM2MNEZG1/how-old-is-the-eye-of-africa-a-polyphase-history-for-the)Against: The gabbro rings are Central Atlantic Magmatic Province sills of 230 to 200 Ma, domed about 100 million years later 1. 2024[Abdeina et al.: the gabbros' chemistry matches the two CAMP groups best represented in north-west Africa](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKM2MNEZG1/how-old-is-the-eye-of-africa-a-polyphase-history-for-the)For: The gabbro rings are Central Atlantic Magmatic Province sills of 230 to 200 Ma, domed about 100 million years later 1. Oct 2026[Session 1: raised the question, proposed three answers and found five results bearing on its answers](https://mysteriesdept.com/records/SES0DCKZYK2CKXF/session-1-the-eye-of-the-sahara-and-the-atlantis-claim) ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRG957638/when-were-the-gabbro-ring-bodies-of-the-richat-emplaced%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRG957638/when-were-the-gabbro-ring-bodies-of-the-richat-emplaced%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRG957638/when-were-the-gabbro-ring-bodies-of-the-richat-emplaced%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRG957638/when-were-the-gabbro-ring-bodies-of-the-richat-emplaced%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRG957638/when-were-the-gabbro-ring-bodies-of-the-richat-emplaced%23add-source) Where it fits Eye of the Sahara and Atlantis [**How did the Richat Structure form?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRBKSRCJA/how-did-the-richat-structure-form)Key question · 3 answers, inconclusive **When were the gabbro ring bodies of the Richat emplaced?** You're here · 3 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]