On the age and morphology of the reunion event

Data pertinent to the age of the normal polarity Reunion "Event" (or subchr on), and whether it is a split feature, are critically examined. New Ar-40/ Ar-39 age determinations on lavas from two sequences on Reunion Island, alo ng with available potassium-argon (K-Ar), 40Ar/39Ar and astrochronological analyses, indicate an age of 2.15 - 2.13 Ma. Although the possibility canno t be completely ruled out, at present there is no convincing evidence suppo rting the contention of a short duration of normal polarity some 70 - 90 ky r later.