Continuing the tradition of International Dyke Conference, this book is largely based on contributions from the IDC7 but also includes some chapters by invitation. It focuses on mafic dyke swarms and related associations: e.g. links with sills, kimberlites, syenites, carbonatites, and volcanics, discussing the following themes: (i) regional maps/reviews of dyke swarms and related units, (ii) the role of giant dyke swarms in the reconstruction of supercontinents/paleocontinents, (iii) mapping of dykes using remote sensing techniques, (iv) geochronology of dyke swarms, (v) petrology, geochemistry and petrogenesis of dykes, (vi) emplacement mechanism of dykes, (vii) dyke swarms and planetary bodies, and (viii) links to mineralization and resources.

Detailed multidisciplinary studies on mafic dyke swarms play a crucial role in solving geodynamic problems of Earth’s history. Professor Henry C. Halls recog- nized the importance of dyke swarms long ago and organized the first International Dyke Conference focusing on geological, geochemical, and geophysical aspects of dykes and related units in Toronto, Canada, in 1985. Given the new insights arising during that conference, it was decided that International Dyke Conferences (IDCs) should be held every 5 years. Consequently, IDC-2 was held in Australia in 1990, IDC-3 in Israel in 1995, IDC-4 in South Africa in 2001, IDC-5 in Finland in 2005, and IDC-6 in India in 2010. Each IDC also produced a proceedings volume (apart from IDC-4 whose contributions were published as part of the IDC-5 volume) (Halls and Fahrig 1987; Parker et al. 1990; Baer and Heimann 1995; Hanski et al. 2006; Srivastava 2011).