Petrological characterization, U–Pb geochronology, Lu–Hf analyses and major and trace element data from mafic intrusions in the Central Espinha?o (central portion of the Brazilian shield) are used here to investigate the geological significance of the Early Neoproterozoic magmatism in the context of the S?o Francisco-Congo pale-ocontinent. These mafic bodies are represented by medium to coarse-grained metagabbros with plagioclase, amphibole and clinopyroxene. Zircon U–Pb isotopic data from two samples yielded weighted mean 206Pb/238U ages of 895 ± 3.4 Ma (MSWD=1.7) and 896 ± 2.4 Ma (MSWD=0.64), regarded as the best estimates for the crystallization age of these mafic rocks. Major and trace element data (including REEs) show that the gabbros originated from a subalkaline tholeiitic magma, typical of intraplate magmatism. Such rocks are slightly enriched in LREEs and LILEs and depleted in HFSEs. Our new isotope and geochemical data, along with regional knowl-edge, indicate that these metagabbros mark the beginning of an important Tonian-age extensional tectonic event of the landmass of which the S?o Francisco-Congo paleocontinent was part (Rodinia supercontinent or Central African block?). We furthermore suggest that these rocks belong to a prominent suite of Tonian-age mafic rocks that mark a diachronic breakup attempt of this landmass which may have occurred from south to north along the Espinha?o mountain range.